President-elect Donald Trump has once again raised the prospect of the United States acquiring Greenland, the self-governing territory of Denmark, declaring it an “absolute necessity” for national security, Bloomberg reports.
This revives a controversial proposal from 2019 that was swiftly rejected by Denmark.
Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, said, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
This renewed interest comes as the strategic importance of Greenland has grown, particularly following the war in Ukraine. Greenland’s location between the Arctic and the North Atlantic makes it crucial for both US and NATO defense. The island already hosts a US air base and radar station, further solidifying its value to American national defense.
The president-elect’s statement was made as he nominated PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark. Howery, who previously served as ambassador to Sweden under the Trump administration, responded on social media, stating he would work to “deepen the bonds” between the US, Denmark and Greenland.
Trump’s earlier attempt to purchase Greenland in 2019 sparked diplomatic friction with Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the idea as “absurd” and unequivocally stated that Greenland was not for sale.
This renewed push for Greenland is not the only territorial claim Trump has suggested recently. On Sunday, he also threatened to retake control over the Panama Canal, and earlier in the week, he floated the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state in the US.
