Trump’s Greenland purchase plan sparks European outrage; Denmark issues will shoot first warning
US President Donald Trump's proposal to offer cash payments to Greenland has sparked strong objections from European countries, with Denmark issuing a firm response and reaffirming that Greenland is not for sale.
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has asserted that Washington may offer direct cash payments to Greenland in an effort to pull it away from Denmark and bring it closer to the United States. Reports suggest the US is willing to offer amounts ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 100,000 to Greenlanders.
Greenland, an island territory, is currently a semi-autonomous region under Danish rule. With a population of nearly 57,000, the island is rich in natural resources. The proposal, however, remains at an early stage and lacks clarity.
Why is Greenland invasion opposed by many countries?
This is not the first time such an idea has surfaced. It traces back to an earlier proposal in which the White House had expressed interest in "buying” Greenland. Both Copenhagen and Nuuk had firmly rejected the idea, stating that Greenland is not for sale. The current proposal is not limited to financial incentives but is also linked to diplomatic agreements and defence considerations. Any sudden takeover would pose a serious challenge to NATO, as several treaties involve the island territory.
Reacting to Trump’s claims, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated a sharp message on Facebook, stating, "Enough is enough. No more fantasies about annexation.”
The US offer has further fuelled tensions across Europe. On Tuesday, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark issued a joint statement asserting that decisions regarding Greenland’s future rest exclusively with Greenland and Denmark, warning that US intervention would have negative consequences.
Denmark's staunch reply to the US
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Defence Ministry delivered a strong response to suggestions of a US invasion, stating that Danish soldiers are authorised to shoot first and ask questions later if such an invasion occurs. The ministry clarified that this stance aligns with the army’s 1952 rules of engagement, which require troops to act against invaders without waiting for orders from higher authorities. The directive, the ministry said, remains in force, according to Danish daily Berlingske.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday warned US President Donald Trump, stating that any American attempt to seize Greenland would signify the end of the NATO alliance and undermine "the security established since the end of the Second World War.”
Trump, meanwhile, has justified the proposal by arguing that the United States needs to control the world’s largest island to safeguard its own security amid growing threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.