Trump: "Immediate Negotiations to Secure Greenland... No Use of Force"

"Only the U.S. Can Protect It... Greenland Is Our Territory"

President Donald Trump of the United States announced on January 21 (local time) that he would push for immediate negotiations to secure Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. However, he drew a line by stating that military options for acquiring Greenland are excluded.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

President Trump made these remarks during a special address at the World Economic Forum (WEF, also known as the Davos Forum) held in Davos, Switzerland, stating, "Only the United States can protect this vast landmass, this enormous chunk of ice."

He emphasized, "We can develop and improve Greenland to make it beneficial and safe for Europe, which will also be advantageous for the United States," adding, "This is why I am pushing for immediate negotiations to discuss the issue of the United States securing Greenland once again."

However, President Trump dismissed the possibility of using force. He stated, "People thought I would use force, but there is no need for that," and added, "I do not want to use force, and I will not use it."

These remarks are interpreted as an intention to prepare a concrete proposal for the annexation of Greenland. Previously, in 1946, then-President Harry Truman secretly proposed purchasing Greenland for 100 million dollars, but the plan was scrapped after Denmark refused.

At the beginning of his speech, President Trump joked that he had not intended to mention the issue of Greenland, but continued, "Everyone wants to hear why the United States wants to own Greenland."

He argued, "Greenland is a strategic outpost between the United States, Russia, and China, yet it is a vast territory with almost no inhabitants, undeveloped, and undefended."

He also mentioned that during World War II, the United States protected Greenland and prevented hostile forces from gaining a foothold there. He criticized Denmark for opposing the annexation of Greenland by the United States, saying, "After the war, we returned Greenland to Denmark, but that was a foolish thing to do," and "They are not grateful now."

President Trump went further to expand his remarks to a territorial claim over Greenland. He asserted, "This vast and inadequately defended island is actually part of North America at the northernmost front of the Western Hemisphere," and added, "It is our territory."