Senior officials in President-elect Trump’s incoming administration suggested Sunday that the United States could pursue diplomatic channels to increase its presence in Greenland, while sending mixed signals about potential military action to acquire the resource-rich island.
Vice President-elect JD Vance told Fox News Sunday that “there’s a deal to be made in Greenland,” saying the territory is “really important for America strategically” and has “a lot of great natural resources.”
The comments follow Trump’s recent statements refusing to rule out military force to acquire Greenland, which sparked concern among NATO allies. Danish officials have privately sent messages to Trump’s team expressing willingness to boost security in Greenland or increase US military presence there.
Read: Trump Escalates Bid for Greenland, Says He Won’t Rule Out Force
Vance said military force isn’t needed in Greenland, noting the US already has troops stationed on the island. He added that people Donald Trump Jr. met in Greenland last week told him they “want to be empowered to develop” those resources.
Florida Representative Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said on ABC’s This Week that the president-elect “is always going to leave all options on the table.” He suggested existing agreements could be amended, noting that Greenland is “pushing for independence, which would allow all types of other avenues.”
The island’s strategic value, established during the Cold War as part of an early warning system, has increased as Russia and China seek influence in the Arctic region.
GOP Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma opposed military action on NBC’s Meet the Press, saying, “We’re not going to invade another country. That’s not who we are. The president speaks very boldly on a lot of things.”
Greenlandic and Danish officials have made clear that the island is not for sale.
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One Response
Minerals are a bonus but (according to Denmark who doesn’t want to enjoy the wrath of the US) it will be up to the 60,000 Greenlanders. Ok, I suppose they can be bought off but if they are smart, they would open themselves to a bidding process ie let Russia and China bid too. For Trump, its really about choking off China at every point (more war positioning), for Russia & China, its existential but not critical since missiles or a base stationed there can be easily be dispatched by their own missiles. Greenland isn’t all that much farther than Finland – just another brick to smash.