After the Prime Minister of Greenland told residents to prepare for a military invasion, Donald Trump suggested the world would ‘find out’ how far he’s willing to go.
Trump has threatened to hit the UK and other European nations with 10% tariffs from February 1 unless they agree to his purchase of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
When asked by a reporter how far he would go to acquire Greenland, Trump had a three-word reply.
‘You’ll find out.’
Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a press conference today that it was ‘not likely there will be a military conflict, but it can’t be ruled out.’
‘That’s why we must be ready for all possibilities, but let’s emphasise this: Greenland is part of NATO and, if there were to be an escalation, it would also have consequences for the rest of the world,’ he added.
During a press conference today, Trump also questioned whether Nato would come to the ‘rescue’ of the United States.
‘I did more for Nato than any other person alive or dead. Nobody’s done that for Nato, and I think for the most part, they’ll tell you that,’ he said.
‘The big fear I have with Nato is we spend tremendous amounts of money with Nato, and I know we’ll come to their rescue, but I just really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours. Just asking. Just saying, right?’
Speaking of Macron and Starmer, Trump said: ‘They get a little rough when I’m not around, but when I’m around, they treat me very nicely. They’re both liberal; they’ve got to straighten out their countries.
‘London is having a lot of problems, Paris… they have two problems Immigration and energy. They have to stop with the windmills. The UK has an unbelievable asset called the North Sea; they have a better section of it, and they don’t use it.’
Trump said Nato was ‘going to be very happy’ but repeated his insistence that the US needs Greenland ‘for national security’.
Asked whether he was willing to pay the price of a break-up of NATO, he said: ‘I think something’s going to happen that’s going to be very good for everybody. Nobody’s done more for Nato than I have.
‘I think that we will work something out, but Nato is going to be very happy and where we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes, we need it for national security and even world security. It is very important.’
Earlier today, the iPaper revealed the RAF and Navy are poised to join a NATO task force in Greenland.
Surveillance units could put British boots on the ground in Greenland in a bid to show Trump that Europe is protecting Greenland from Russian and Chinese interests.
Sir Keir Starmer reiterated that the UK is prepared to ‘play its part to protect Arctic security alongside Nato’, in a call with the president of the European Council, Downing Street said.
A No 10 spokesperson said: ‘Discussing events of recent days, he reiterated his position that the future of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
‘He reiterated that the UK is prepared to play its part to protect Arctic security, alongside Nato. They agreed on the fundamental importance of continued defence and security co-operation in these volatile times.’
Why does Trump want Greenland?
Greenland sits in the Arctic Circle, where world powers, including China and Russia, have been jostling for military control.
And for good reason: Controlling Greenland would give a nation an outpost in a vital naval corridor connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic.
As climate change melts the icecaps, the once nearly impossible-to-navigate ocean is becoming more spacious, opening up new shipping routes.
Scores of rare resources are locked inside Greenland, with 31 out of 34 materials that Europe sees as ‘critical’ being found there.
On top of cobalt, nickel, copper and titanium-vanadium, the island is also rich in gold, platinum and diamonds.
Many metals are used to make batteries, electric vehicles and other high-tech items. It may also have pools of oil and gas.
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