On Wednesday, officials from the Trump administration are scheduled to engage in discussions with Danish representatives regarding Greenland, according to diplomatic sources reported by CBS News.
Although this meeting has not been officially confirmed, it follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks to Congress last week indicating President Trump’s keen interest in acquiring the Danish territory. Additionally, the White House disclosed on Tuesday that there are ongoing conversations exploring various methods to obtain Greenland, which even includes the controversial notion of using military force.
While Rubio had minimized the idea of military action during his press interactions, President Trump reignited this discussion on Sunday night, asserting, "If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen."
Trump elaborated, stating, "I’d love to make a deal with them. It’s easier. But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland," echoing similar sentiments he expressed previously when he mentioned, "if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way."
Senator Tim Kaine, who recently met with Danish officials, expressed on Sunday his belief that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress would join forces to prevent any military intervention aimed at seizing Greenland. He stated emphatically, "We’re not going to do it the hard way, and we’re not going to do it the easy way." The senator emphasized the importance of continuing to collaborate with Denmark as a sovereign ally rather than treating them as an adversary.
In an interview published last week with the New York Times, Trump articulated the significance of Greenland, citing its ownership as crucial for what he perceives as psychological success, claiming that it is vital for the U.S. defense strategy.
The heightened rhetoric from the president in recent weeks has exacerbated already tense relations with European allies. A growing number of European diplomats conveyed to CBS News their concern that America's commitment to Europe’s defense and NATO may no longer be as unwavering as it once was, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the U.S. previously rallied European nations against Russian aggression. One diplomat warned that the situation surrounding Greenland could potentially become a breaking point in these relations.
When pressed Sunday about the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from NATO, Trump remarked, "It would save a lot of money. I like NATO. I just wonder whether or not, if we needed NATO, would they be there for us? I'm not sure they would."
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, appointed by Trump as the special envoy to Greenland last month, took to social media on Sunday to emphasize the historical context of U.S. involvement in Greenland, stating, "History matters. The U.S. defended Greenland's sovereignty during WWII when Denmark couldn't. After the war, Denmark re-occupied it—side stepping and ignoring UN protocol. This should be about hospitality, not hostility."
In response, Denmark's Ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, highlighted the importance of historical facts, noting that Greenland has been part of Denmark for centuries. He pointed out that all five parties in Greenland’s Parliament recently reiterated their desire not to become part of the United States. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and party leaders stated, "We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously warned that any American military attempt to take control of Greenland would effectively signal the end of the NATO alliance. As a NATO member, Denmark is bound by Article 5, which obligates all members to respond collectively to any armed attack against a member nation.
Kaine remarked on "Face the Nation" that such actions would not only spell disaster for NATO but also leave America isolated, saying, "This would be disastrous. It wouldn’t just be the end of NATO; it would be America alone."
Zak Hudak contributed to this report.
