Trump commented this way on Wednesday on the results of the conversation between the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland with the vice president and the US secretary of state. When asked whether, as expressed by Danish Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the US would respect the country's “red lines” regarding Greenland, the US president said that only annexation by the US could deter China or Russia from occupying the island.
Why does Trump consider Greenland important to national security?
What is the Dane's position on the takeover of Greenland?
What did Rutte say about cooperation in the Arctic?
What are the next steps regarding Greenland?
— I'm certainly not going to give up the option (use of force), but it's very important. Greenland is very important for national security, including for Denmark. The problem is that Denmark can't do anything if Russia or China wants to take Greenland, but we can do anything, Trump said.
— We need it for national security and this also applies to Europe. And I talked to Mark (Rutt), the head of NATO, and he really wants something to happen, the president added, without explaining the statement.
Greenland under dispute. NATO chief speaks out
Rutte has largely avoided answering Greenland so far, but in Brussels on Tuesday he said he expected allied nations to hold discussions in the coming weeks on the next security steps in the Arctic region.
— We all agree that when it comes to the Arctic, we must cooperate, Rutte said at a conference in Brussels organized in the European Parliament by the Liberal Group.
About Greenland in the White House
Meanwhile, after Wednesday's talks at the White House, Rasmussen and Greenland's foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeld, admitted that they did not bring about a change in the US position on the desire to take over the island, although they agreed to further talks. — However, we agreed that it would be worth trying to sit down at a high level and explore whether there are opportunities to address the president's concerns while still respecting the Kingdom of Denmark's red lines. Whether this will be possible, I don't know, said the head of Danish diplomacy. He announced that working groups would be established for this purpose.
Minister Motzfeld, in turn, said that Greenland wants to increase cooperation with the US, but not at the expense of being owned by America. — I would like to say how important it is for us to strengthen our cooperation with the United States, but this does not mean that we want to be owned by the United States, she said.
