Denmark Must Cede Greenland to the U.S., Trump Says

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the deal for the annexation of Greenland, which Denmark opposes vehemently, should take place, calling for the island to be made "great again." In a later press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump stated that Denmark should cede Greenland to the U.S. for the purpose of protecting the "free world," including against ships from China and Russia, and he did not rule out the use of military force to assert control over the island.

Donald Trump Jr. had arrived in the capital of Greenland the day before, but local authorities declined to meet with him, branding the visit as private.

Bloomberg highlighted several reasons behind the U.S. President's interest in the island:

• Greenland controls strategic maritime routes at the North Atlantic and Arctic fringes, as well as well-known air corridors.
• The region contains vast reserves of valuable natural resources, which interest not only the U.S. but also Russia and China, along with significant oil and gas deposits.
• Greenland hosts the U.S.'s northernmost airbase and radar station, which are used for detecting missile threats and monitoring space.

The intensity of Trump's statements has been reinforced by the fact that the former Prime Minister of Greenland, Múte Egede, advocated for independence from Denmark in his New Year’s address. However, he emphasized he was not interested in joining the U.S.