U.S. President Donald Trump once again let the threat of using military force loom, if he deems it necessary for the annexation of Greenland, arguing in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News — broadcast in full on Sunday — that his country has a “great need” for the Arctic island from a national security standpoint.
Asked whether or not he rules out the use of military force, he responded: “I don’t rule it out. I’m not saying I will do it, but I don’t rule anything out.”
Welker: "Would you rule out military force to take Canada?"
— Ric₳rdo Rodrigues (@rforodrigues_14) May 4, 2025
Trump: "I think we're not going to ever get to that point. Something could happen with Greenland, I'll be honest."
Welker: "You are not ruling out military force to take Greenland?"
Trump: "I don't rule it out." pic.twitter.com/FEmvilUnJz
“Greenland has a very small population, which we will take care of, love, and all that. But we need it for international security,” he insisted.
For months, the American president has been publicly expressing his desire for Greenland to become a “part” of the United States, despite the island being an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and he has never ruled out the use of military force to achieve this.
During his first term, Trump also caused irritation in Europe by floating the idea that Washington could “buy” the largest island on the planet.
Geographically, Greenland is part of the North American continent that stretches into the Arctic. The vast island is considered important for the global climate and for military control of the Arctic.
It is also believed to have a rich subsoil, especially in rare earth elements and hydrocarbons, and lies along sea routes that are gradually becoming increasingly significant.
The governments of both Greenland and Denmark continue to flatly reject the ambitions of the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
Donald Trump has also repeatedly expressed a desire to see Canada become the “51st state” of the U.S. — even referring to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “governor” — and his remarks on the matter are believed to have played a decisive role in Canada’s recent election outcome, the victory of Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney, and the Liberals, despite trailing by as much as 25 percentage points in polls earlier this year.
In his interview with NBC News, however, the Republican clarified that he is not considering the military option for the annexation of Canada.
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