Trump: US will acquire Greenland ‘one way or the other,’ but he would ‘love to make a deal’

The U.S. will have Greenland “one way or the other,” President Donald Trump declared Sunday, warning that if Washington doesn’t act, “Russia or China will,” insisting he is “not going to let that happen.”

Greenland has been thrust into the global spotlight after Trump said last week, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security” and acquiring it was “strategic” – only a day after American forces successfully arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump has long expressed interest in the resource-rich island, which is a self-governing Danish territory. The president has “made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal.” 

Trump on Sunday was pressed on whether he was planning on military action in Greenland and whether a deal could be on the table. 

“I’d love to make a deal with them. It’s easier,” Trump said. “But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.” 

He added that if the U.S. doesn’t take the territory, “Russia or China will, and I’m not letting that happen.” 

Asked if he had made an actual offer to Denmark or Greenland yet, Trump said he had not, but “Greenland should make the deal because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over.” 

“Do you know what their defense is? Two dog sleds,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “In the meantime, you have Russian destroyers and submarines and China destroyers and 

submarines all over the place. We’re not going to let that happen.” 

Trump later doubled down on Greenland, clarifying that the U.S. is not talking about leasing or having short-term control of Greenland.  “We’re talking about acquiring,” he said. “You need ownership. You really need ‘title,’ as they say in the real estate business.” 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday said Denmark is at a “fateful moment” due to Trump’s threats. 

“We are at a crossroads, and this is a fateful moment,” Frederiksen said, per The Guardian. “What is at stake is bigger than what the eye can see, because if what we experience from the Americans is that they are actually turning their backs on the western alliance, that they are turning their backs on our Nato cooperation by threatening an ally, which we have not experienced before, then everything will stop.” 

Danish officials are expected to meet with the Trump administration about Greenland on Wednesday, CBS News reported, citing diplomatic sources.  

The White House referred The Lion to Trump’s Sunday remarks when asked about the reported meeting, which has not yet been formally announced.