Trump May Use “Hard Way” to Secure Greenland

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump cautioned that Washington might acquire Greenland the “hard way,” insisting he would not permit the strategically located North Atlantic island to be dominated by Russia or China. The Kingdom of Denmark, which maintains sovereignty over Greenland, has rejected the American push to claim the territory.

Speaking to journalists at the White House on Friday, Trump asserted that the US is “going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,” contending that “Russia or China will take over Greenland” if Washington fails to intervene.

“I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he emphasized, without clarifying the extent of measures he was prepared to take.

Trump, who admitted that a military option remains possible, also did not dismiss the idea of compensating Greenland’s residents when asked about potential payments.

Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, has fewer than 57,000 inhabitants despite being geographically larger than Mexico. The US already maintains a military presence there, but Trump has sought full control, underscoring the island’s importance for Arctic defense.

The Greenland issue, which first drew attention during Trump’s initial term, has become a significant source of strain between Washington and European NATO allies.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any US military strike on another NATO member would mean “everything stops,” while European leaders reiterated that “Greenland belongs to its people.”

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