Trump says he wants the US to buy Greenland, declaring its 'ownership and control an absolute necessity' to protect 'national security and freedom throughout the world'
Trump says he wants the US to buy Greenland, declaring its 'ownership and control an absolute necessity' to protect 'national security and freedom throughout the world'
President-elect Donald Trump has reignited his interest in buying Greenland, alleging that US ownership of the island is an 'absolute necessity' to protect global 'national security and freedom'.
Trump, 78, made the stark declaration Sunday night as he announced his pick for ambassador to Denmark, PayPal co-founder Ken Howery, who also served as the US ambassador to Sweden from 2019 to 2021.
'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,' he wrote on Truth Social.
Tump expressed interest in buying Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, during his first presidential term.
He was publicly rebuffed by Danish authorities - who reiterated the island was 'open for business, not for sale' - before any conversations could take place.
Trump's interest in purchasing Greenland comes amid a series of a comments about territorial expansion, including invading Mexico and turning Canada into a US state. He also threatened to reassert American control over the Panama Canal.
Although he has publicly mused about expanding US territory, Trump has not shared a specific plan to do so or revealed how much America would pay for such acquisitions.
The Charters Cities Institute, a DC based nonprofit which has analyzed a potential Greenland purchase, claims a purchase is unlikely unless the US were to make a bid that was enticing to all Greenlanders - such as offering $500billion split equally amongst all citizens.
The US offered Denmark $100million in gold for Greenland in 1946, which adjusted for inflation was approximately $1.4billion in 2019.
However, the valuation doesn't include the natural resources or diplomatic importance that Greenland, the world's largest island, currently holds, Times Now News reports.
Greenland, which covers 1.34million miles (2.16million kilometers), is a mineral-rich area that is almost entirely covered in ice sheets and holds strategic value for shipping routes, military interests and Arctic sovereignty.
While Trump is interested in the benefits that American-control over Greenland would provide, it is unclear how the Greenlandic public would feel about a US purchase.
Greenlanders have been largely supportive of independence from Denmark, according to the Charters Cities Institute, which cited a poll from 2019 revealing that two-thirds of citizens 'supported full independence'.
A poll conducted two years later also suggested that 69 per cent of Greenlanders supported closer cooperation with the US. That same poll also revealed that 68 per cent of people were in support of greater cooperation with Denmark.
Charters Cities Institute states that given the public's support for independence, it is unlikely that Greenlanders would support America purchasing the island.
However, the organization suggested that a significant payout that put money in the pockets of each citizen 'might change some minds'.
Analysts, proposing a hypothetical offer, suggested a $500billion purchase split evenly amongst all Greenlanders - which would provide each citizen with a roughly $8.7million check - might be enough to sweeten the deal.
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