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Trump vows to annex Greenland again during meeting with NATO chief: Media

IANS March 14, 2025 189 views

US President Donald Trump has once again raised eyebrows by openly discussing the potential annexation of Greenland during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Despite Rutte's attempts to distance NATO from the controversial proposal, Trump remained confident about acquiring the strategic Arctic island. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between diplomatic norms and Trump's unconventional geopolitical approaches. Greenland, with its complex historical relationship with Denmark, continues to be at the center of this unprecedented diplomatic discussion.

"I think it will happen" - Donald Trump on Greenland annexation
Washington, March 14: US President Donald Trump said that he believes the US would annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, US news outlets reported.

Key Points

1

Trump suggests military expansion in Greenland

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NATO chief rejects involvement in territorial plans

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Greenland's opposition party opposes annexation

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Historical context of Danish territorial control

Trump expressed confidence the US would annex the large island, even suggesting the head of the NATO alliance could be a key player in facilitating the acquisition, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Hill reported.

"I think it will happen," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during the meeting, said the report.

In response, Rutte said that any discussion about Trump's attempts to acquire Greenland is outside of his purview and he doesn't want to drag NATO in that, the report stated.

"A boat landed there 200 years ago or something. They say they have rights to it," Trump said in the Oval Office, adding that "I don't know if that's true. I don't think it is, actually," according to the report.

Trump noted that the United States already has a military presence in Greenland and, "Maybe you'll see more and more soldiers going there," the report added.

Since early this year, Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to obtain Greenland, even suggesting the possibility of using force.

Acknowledging the uncertainty sparked by Trump's moves, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed Denmark's position earlier this month, emphasising that Greenland's future is solely for its people to decide.

Greenland's opposition Demokraatit (Democrats) party won Tuesday's parliamentary election, according to preliminary data released by the Central Election Committee on Wednesday. The party favors a gradual move toward independence from Denmark and has criticized Trump's threat to annex Greenland.

Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy.

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