‘If we don’t act, others will’: Donald Trump threatens to take Greenland the ‘hard way’, cites Russia, China risk

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his push to acquire Greenland, warning that Washington would be forced to act if Russia or China moved to expand their presence in the Arctic territory. He said the United States would prefer a negotiated deal but did not rule out coercive measures.

Speaking to reporters during a meeting with top oil and gas executives, Trump said, “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland — and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.”

“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he added.

Referring to Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, Trump questioned its historical claim. “I’m a fan of Denmark, they’ve been very nice to me. But the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own the land,” he said.

Trump cited increased Russian and Chinese naval activity in Arctic waters, claiming the presence of destroyers and submarines near Greenland. “We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland, and that’s what they’re going to do if we don’t act,” he said.

When asked why US military expansion alone was insufficient, Trump emphasised the importance of ownership. “When we own it, we defend it. You don’t defend leases the same way. Countries defend ownership, not leases,” he said, adding that NATO must understand the strategic importance of Greenland.

The US President has revived his long-standing interest in the semi-autonomous Danish territory, which is rich in rare earth minerals, uranium and iron ore. Greenland has long been viewed by Washington as strategically vital due to its location between North America, Europe and Russia.

Trump first proposed purchasing Greenland during his first term in 2019, an offer that was firmly rejected by Denmark.

Drawing parallels with recent US actions in Venezuela, Trump said that American intervention had prevented rivals from gaining influence there. “If we didn’t do what we did, China or Russia would have been in Venezuela,” he claimed.

During the interaction, Trump also criticised wind energy, calling windmills “the worst form of energy.” He said his administration had not approved any new wind power projects and accused China of manufacturing wind turbines while relying on fossil fuels domestically.

“They make them and sell them to suckers like Europe and, earlier, the United States,” he said.

The remarks come a day after Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the US to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, treaties and conventions deemed “contrary to American interests.” These include several UN and non-UN bodies such as the India–France-led International Solar Alliance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The renewed rhetoric has triggered concern among European leaders and NATO allies, who have reiterated support for Denmark’s sovereignty and warned against destabilising actions in the Arctic region.

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