Trump threatens to take Greenland whether Denmark "likes it or not"
By lauraharris // 2026-01-13
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  • President Donald Trump stated the U.S. may take control of Greenland "whether they like it or not," citing strategic competition with Russia and China.
  • Greenland's Arctic location, natural resources and proximity to shipping routes make it a key geopolitical and national security interest for the U.S. and other global powers.
  • Trump said he prefers acquiring Greenland "the easy way" through negotiation with Denmark, but left open the possibility of more forceful measures.
  • Leaders of Greenland's five political parties issued a joint statement asserting the island's right to self-determination and rejecting external pressure.
  • Denmark and other European allies, including Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kiingdom, expressed disapproval of Trump's remarks, emphasizing that Greenland's future is a decision for Greenland and Denmark alone.
U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his interest in Greenland, saying the United States may take control of the self-governing Danish territory "whether they like it or not," citing escalating strategic competition with Russia and China. During a meeting with oil industry executives on Friday, Jan. 9, Trump framed Greenland as vital to U.S. national security and Arctic dominance, warning that without American control, Russia or China could gain a foothold on the resource-rich island. "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor," Trump told reporters at the White House. We don't want Russia or China going to Greenland, which, if we don’t take Greenland, you're going to have Russia or China as your next-door neighbor. That's not going to happen." He claimed the U.S. would pursue acquisition "the easy way," through negotiation with Denmark, but did not rule out more forceful measures. "I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don't do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way."

European allies push back against Trump's Greenland claim

Greenland, the world's largest island that sits between North America and Europe, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and holds significant strategic value due to its Arctic location, natural resources and proximity to key shipping routes. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the strategic importance of Greenland is not lost on the global powers, particularly the United States and China, who see the island as a critical piece in the puzzle of 21st-century geopolitics. The Trump administration's push for American influence in Greenland is a clear indication of the high stakes involved, as control over this territory could mean the difference between dominance and decline in the coming decades. The U.S. already maintains a military presence there through Thule Air Base, a critical component of American missile defense and Arctic surveillance, but Trump insisted that ownership would better secure U.S. interests as global rivals expand Arctic activities. However, the remarks are likely to strain relations with Denmark, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, and reignite debate over Arctic security as global competition in the region intensifies. The leaders of Greenland's five political parties released a joint statement Friday night, shortly after Trump's statement, urging an end to "the U.S.'s disregard for our country." "We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders. We must decide the future of our country ourselves, without pressure for a quick decision, delay or interference from other countries," the leaders said. Other European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, have also expressed disapproval of Trump’s remarks, though their reaction has been measured. Watch this Fox News report about President Trump explaining that the U.S. needs Greenland for international security.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NBCNews.com DW.com Aljazeera.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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