US President Donald Trump discussed with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte the necessity of US control over Greenland for international security during a meeting at the White House. In response to questions about possible annexation plans, Trump expressed his belief that it would happen. Trump saw Rutte as a possible ally in facilitating US annexation of the island, stating that it’s crucial for international security and monitoring activity along the coast. However, Rutte declined to get involved in the debate and didn’t want to bring NATO into it.

Annexing Greenland would increase US influence in the resource-rich Arctic region, which is also a point of interest for Russia and China. Greenland is a self-governing territory under Denmark but depends on Denmark for financial and defense support. Public opinion in Greenland supports independence from Denmark, but not annexation by the United States. Both the outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, and the leader of the winning party in Greenland’s parliamentary election, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, rejected Trump’s comments.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-tells-nato-chief-the-us-needs-greenland/a-71918093?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf