US Presidency Deems the Acquisition of Greenland a Necessity
Ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Greenland, President Donald Trump doubled down on his stance toward the Arctic island and the necessity of the US acquiring it.
In a Wednesday interview with radio show host Vince Coglianese, Trump said of Greenland: “It’s island from a defensive posture and even offensive posture is something we need… When you look at the ships going up their shore by the hundreds, it’s a busy place.”
The President provided some rationale for the US’s acquisition of the island:
“We have to have the land because it’s not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth — not just the U.S. — without it. So we have to have it, and I think we will have it.”
Trump also told reporters that the US needs Greenland for both national and international security.
“We need Greenland. And the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark. Denmark has to have us have Greenland. And, you know, we’ll see what happens. But if we don’t have Greenland, we can’t have great international security.”
The Vice President’s office stated in a press release that there is historical significance in the connection between the US and Greenland, going back to World War II:
“The strategic partnership between the United States and Greenland has long played a vital role in our national and economic security. During World War Two, the United States established over a dozen military bases in Greenland to defend the North Atlantic from Nazi incursion. During the Cold War, the United States committed additional resources to Greenland to defend against Soviet missile attacks.”
This potential move from the US has drawn commentary from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who found the plans a “serious” matter. Putin commented on the subject of the US and Greenland during an Arctic forum in Russia on Thursday, maintaining that the possible land acquisition does not concern his country:
“These plans have deep historical roots, and it’s clear the U.S. will continue to advance its geopolitical, military, and economic interests in the Arctic. As for Greenland, I believe this is a matter between two states and does not directly concern us.”
Putin is concerned with NATO countries that are “increasingly designating the High North as a springboard for possible conflicts and are practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including with the forces of their new recruits.” He considered Finland and Sweden as countries lately conducting such activity.
