President Trump is interested in acquiring Greenland – and he has not ruled out military force.

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” the President told reporters on Air Force One, not for oil and minerals. “You look up and down the coast you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said in a separate speech announcing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the Special Envoy to Greenland. The president hailed Landry as a “great guy…a deal-maker-type guy.”

Location, Location, Location 

Greenland’s appeal comes in part from its geographical location vis-à-vis the Arctic Ocean. There are only three ways of exiting the Arctic, Michael Waller, Senior Analyst for Strategy at the Center for Security Policy told Drew Mariani, and one of them is the passage between Greenland and Norway. 

Waller said that acquiring Greenland could protect the U.S. from Russian aggression. Any Russian ships that enter the Atlantic must come through Greenland, and any Russian missiles on the Kola Peninsula headed toward the U.S. would pass over Greenland. 

Reaction from Europe

Last week, European leaders decried the U.S.’ recent overtures toward Greenland, and released a joint statement saying, “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” They did, however, highlight the importance of keeping, “the Arctic safe” by increased activity and investment there.

When asked if the annexation of Greenland would mark the end of NATO, Mark Rutte, the NATO General Secretary, sidestepped the question by noting that the U.S. and Denmark have a bi-lateral agreement dating back to 1951, and that Denmark would be OK with an increased U.S. military presence there. 

Recent History

The president’s interest in Greenland, a territory of Denmark, stretches back to his first administration. In 2019, Trump floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, but was rebuffed by the Prime Minister of Denmark, who called the idea ‘absurd.’ In response, Trump cancelled a state visit to the country.

Next Steps 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that he will be meeting with Denmark and Greenland sometime this week.