US President Donald Trump has said the United States could gain sovereignty over areas of Greenland where US military bases are located, ending full ownership of the island.
“We’re going to have everything we want. There are interesting conversations going on,” Trump told The New York Post in an interview published Saturday (Jan. 24).
Trump said one proposal under discussion would allow the US to exercise “sovereignty” over US military installations on the island, including the strategically important Pituffik space base, without taking full control of Greenland.
The plan appears to represent a partial alternative to Trump’s long-standing demand for direct US ownership of Arctic territory.
US security concerns
Greenland’s location and proximity to key Arctic routes make it a vital asset for US missile defense and space surveillance operations.
Greenland rejects the proposal for sovereignty
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen strongly opposed the idea, stating that sovereignty over any part of the island was non-negotiable.
“Sovereignty is a red line,” Nielsen said Thursday.
The pressure on Denmark continues
For months, Trump has been pushing Denmark to hand over Greenland, having previously said that “nothing short of ownership” would be acceptable to Washington.
His interest in the island was prominent during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
A “framework” for the agreement
After a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said there was now a “framework” for a deal on Greenland, although he did not provide details.
