President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his interest on Sunday in the United States controlling Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, citing national security and global freedom concerns.
In a statement announcing his appointment of Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark, Trump said, “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.” Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, quickly rejected Trump’s remarks, emphasizing, “Greenland is ours.
We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Reuters reported.
Trump previously floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term, calling it “strategically interesting” in 2019.
He suggested the U.S. might consider the purchase, but noted, “First we have to find out whether or not they have any interest.”
However, Denmark rejected the notion, stating Greenland was not for sale, which led to Trump canceling a planned visit. In a tweet, he explained, “I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time,” following Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s refusal to discuss the sale.
Trump’s interest in Greenland also sparked controversy in 2018 when he reportedly asked aides whether the U.S. could trade Puerto Rico for Greenland, calling Puerto Rico “dirty” and claiming “the people were poor.”
The U.S. has previously considered purchasing Greenland, with offers made in 1867 and again in 1946, when President Harry S. Truman proposed buying it for $100 million—a bid Denmark rejected.
Greenland, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, is the largest island in the world and home to about 57,000 residents.
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