Donald Trump issued a rather ominous three‑word response this week when asked how far he is willing to go to acquire Greenland.
The idea of the Arctic territory — currently under the control of the Kingdom of Denmark — becoming the U.S.’s 51st state has dominated headlines since the start of the year.
Trump and members of his administration have repeatedly argued that securing Greenland is vital for U.S. national security, claiming the territory is essential for the construction of the planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system.
The only problem is that Greenland is not an unclaimed stretch of land. It has been under Danish sovereignty since 1814, and Denmark — along with the majority of Greenlanders — has firmly rejected any possibility of transferring the territory.
Several European countries have backed Denmark in its refusal to hand over Greenland to Trump and the U.S., creating tensions within NATO and sparking fears that the alliance itself could be at risk.
Speculation last week even suggested that Trump might consider an invasion of Greenland if his attempts to purchase the land fail. Notably, the president has not publicly dismissed that possibility.
Trump is widely expected to present his case today, January 21, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Other major political figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will also be in attendance, and it is assumed Trump will use the event to advance his agenda.
The 79‑year‑old has repeatedly insisted that taking control of Greenland must happen, emphasizing that it would be done “the easy way” or “the hard way.”
During a “surprise” press conference marking the first anniversary of his second term, Trump responded with three unsettling words when asked how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland.
“You’ll find out,” Trump said.
The president also addressed questions about whether he was willing to risk NATO’s dissolution over his determination to secure Greenland.
“I think something’s going to happen that’s going to be very good for everybody,” he said.
“I think that we will work something out… NATO is going to be very happy and we’re going to be very happy. But we need it for security purposes — for national security and even world security. It is very important.”
Despite the U.S. being the only NATO country to have activated the treaty’s Article 5 agreement — requiring all members to come to the aid of an attacked ally — Trump expressed doubt about whether other nations would help the U.S. if needed.
“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 really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours,” Trump said.
Do you think Greenland will ultimately end up in U.S. hands? Share your thoughts in the comments.
