US shows strength: Trump's administration explains desire to acquire Greenland

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the push to establish American control over Greenland is driven by Europe's "weakness" and by US strategic interests.

Source: Bessent in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press

Quote: "We are the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness; the US projects strength.

If we look for years, for over a century, American presidents have wanted to acquire Greenland and what we can see is that Greenland is essential to US national security. We're building the Golden Dome, the missile system.

And look, President Trump is being strategic; he's looking beyond this year, he's looking beyond next year to what could happen for a battle in the Arctic. We are not going to outsource our national security. We are not going to outsource our hemispheric security to other countries."

Details: Bessent stressed that the US must act preemptively, following the principle of "peace through strength". He believes the fight over the Arctic is a real future threat and bringing Greenland under US control now would help prevent a future conflict.

He also criticised European partners for short-sightedness in dealing with Russia, drawing parallels with the situation in Ukraine.

Quote: "In Trump 1.0, President Trump told the Europeans, 'Do not, do not build Nord Stream 2. Do not rely on Russian oil'. And guess what, Kristen, guess what is funding Russia's efforts against Ukraine? European purchases of Russian oil. So America has to be in control here [over Greenland]."

Details: When asked by a journalist whether Washington might consider seizing the island by force, as Russia did with Crimea, Bessent avoided a direct denial. He said he had not discussed the issue with Trump but expressed confidence that "Europeans will understand" that transferring Greenland under US control is the best option for them.

Bessent also dismissed concerns that such actions could undermine NATO. He said that the US would remain in the Alliance but stressed that Trump does not want America "dragged into someone else's war" because allies cannot guarantee security in the region. Bessent highlighted that the US had spent US$22 trillion more on defence than European countries since 1980.

Background:

• Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to purchase the resource-rich island of Greenland, citing it as a strategic necessity for the US.
• The governments of Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected these proposals, emphasising that the island is not for sale.
• On 17 January, Trump announced a trade war against countries supporting Denmark's territorial integrity and sending troops to Greenland.
• Under Trump's announced schedule, from 1 February a 10% tariff will be applied to food, goods and raw materials from Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom. If these countries do not comply, from 1 June the US administration will raise the rate to more than 25%.
• In response, the European Union is preparing a package of tough countermeasures. Brussels is considering imposing tariffs on US goods worth a total of €93 billion or restricting access for American companies to the EU's single market.

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