US President Donald Trump told Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday that US control of Greenland was necessary to enhance international security, escalating his campaign to annex the strategic Arctic island.
โYou know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security โ international โ we have a lot of our favourite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful,โ Trump told Rutte as they sat side-by-side in the White House Oval Office for talks. โWeโll be talking to you.โ
Asked directly about the prospect of annexation, Trump said: โI think that will happenโ.
Trump has made US annexation of Greenland a major talking point since he took office on January 20. His comments on Thursday suggested he might want Nato involved in his attempt to take over the island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The comments drew a swift rejection from the outgoing prime minister of Greenland.