US President Donald Trump spoke again late Friday about action on Greenland, saying the US must do “something” or risk Russia and China intervening. He said Washington does not want Moscow or Beijing as its “neighbors.”Speaking to reporters during a meeting with top oil and gas executives, Trump questioned Denmark’s claim to Greenland, saying that landing a boat there 500 years ago did not constitute ownership of the land.
When asked about Greenland, Trump said: “We’re going to do something in Greenland whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland – and we won’t have Russia or China as neighbors.” I’d like to do a deal the easy way, but if we can’t do it the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way.”He added: “And by the way, I’m a fan of Denmark too. They’ve been very nice to me. I’m a big fan, but the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own the land. We also had a lot of boats going there. But we need that because if you look outside Greenland now, it’s Russian destroyers, Chinese destroyers and even worse, there are Russian submarines everywhere. We won’t have that.” Russia or China are occupying Greenland and that’s what they will do if we don’t. We’re going to do something with Greenland, either the good way or the hard way.”When asked why the US needed to “own” Greenland when it already had a military presence there, Trump replied that ownership was critical to defense.He said: “If it’s ours, we’ll defend it. You don’t defend leases the same way. You have to own it.” Countries must have property and you defend property. They don’t defend leases. If we don’t do it, China or Russia will be fine. That won’t happen… NATO needs to understand this. I am completely for NATO. I saved it. Without me, NATO wouldn’t exist.Trump’s repeated statements about Greenland were met with strong opposition in Denmark and Greenland. Copenhagen has warned that its troops are under orders to “shoot first and ask questions later” if Greenland is attacked, as concerns grow in Europe that the US is openly discussing possible military action against the Arctic territory.Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump’s claims that the US “needs” Greenland for security reasons, calling them an “unacceptable pleasure.”Asked what it would mean if the US used force against another NATO member, Frederiksen said: “If the US attacks another NATO country, everything stops.” She added that while she could not predict Washington’s actions, there was “Europe’s full support that borders must be respected.”Trump has renewed his push to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory rich in natural resources such as rare earths, uranium and iron. His latest comments came days after the US used military force in Venezuela to detain President Nicolas Maduro.The United States has viewed Greenland as strategically important for decades. Under Trump, the island has once again become the focus of Washington’s Arctic strategy. Trump had already offered to buy Greenland during his first term in 2019, but Denmark said it was not for sale.Trump has repeatedly warned that Russia and China could take control of foreign territories if the US does not act. Referring to the operation in Venezuela, he said: “If we hadn’t done what we did, China or Russia would have been in Venezuela.”In response to a question about Europe, Trump sharply criticized wind energy. He said: “I’m not a big fan of windmills. I can proudly say that since I’ve been in office, we haven’t approved a single windmill and that will continue. My job is not to let any windmill be built. They’re losers. They lose money, they destroy your landscape, they kill your birds, they’re all made in China.”He also suggested that Europe should consult China about its own use of wind power.Trump said: “They (China) use coal, oil and gas and some nuclear power, but they don’t have windmills.” They make them and sell them to suckers like Europe and before that to suckers like the United States. They are the worst and most expensive form of energy.”Those comments came shortly after Trump signed a memorandum ordering the U.S. to withdraw from international organizations, conventions and treaties that he said were “contrary to U.S. interests.”According to a White House statement, the move includes the withdrawal of 35 non-UN organizations and 31 UN facilities. Non-UN organizations listed include the India- and France-led International Solar Alliance, environmental organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Other affected organizations include the International Energy Forum, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
