‘Enough is enough’: Greenland PM on Trump annex campaign

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS ONCE AGAIN PUSHING HIS CAMPAIGN TO ANNEX GREENLAND – TELLING NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL MARK RUTTE ON THURSDAY THE U-S NEEDS TO CONTROL THE SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DANISH TERRITORY TO BULK UP GLOBAL SECURITY. CAMPAIGN TO ANNEX 

[DONALD TRUMP]

“YOU KNOW, MARK, WE NEED THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, NOT JUST SECURITY- INTERNATIONAL– WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR FAVORITE PLAYERS CRUISING AROUND THE COAST, AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. AND WE’LL BE TALKING TO YOU. AND IT’S A VERY APPROPRIATE REALLY A VERY APPROPRIATE QUESTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

WHEN ASKED ABOUT POSSIBLE ANNEXATION OF GREENLAND, HERE’S WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY..

[DONALD TRUMP]

“WELL, I THINK IT’LL HAPPEN AND I’M JUST THINKING I DIDN’T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT BEFORE, BUT I’M SITTING WITH A MAN THAT COULD BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL.”

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

THE PRESIDENT HAS REPEATEDLY VOWED A U-S TAKEOVER OF GREENLAND BEFORE AND THURSDAY’S STATEMENT SIGNALS HE WANTS NATO INVOLVED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO ANNEX THE ISLAND.

TRUMP’S REMARKS SPARKED BACKLASH FROM THE OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER OF GREENLAND. 

THE P-M WRITING ON FACEBOOK, “THE U-S PRESIDENT HAS ONCE AGAIN AIRED THE THOUGHT OF ANNEXING US. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”

JENS-FREDERIK NIELSON WHOSE PARTY WON THE COUNTRY’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION TUESDAY ALSO CONDEMNED THE PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS.

POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, “TRUMP’S STATEMENT FROM THE U-S IS INAPPROPRIATE AND JUST SHOWS ONCE AGAIN THAT WE MUST STAND TOGETHER IN SUCH SITUATIONS.” 

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

NATO AND DENMARK’S EMBASSY IN D-C HAVE YET TO RESPOND TO TRUMP’S REMARKS.

DENMARK HAS REPEATEDLY SAID GREENLAND IS NOT FOR SALE.

THE MINERAL-RICH COUNTRY SITS IN A STRATEGIC LOCATION — THE SHORTEST ROUTE FROM EUROPE TO NORTH AMERICA — AND IS CRUCIAL TO THE U-S BALLISTIC MISSILE WARNING SYSTEM.

NATO’S SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE WILL LEAVE GREENLAND’S FUTURE UP TO OTHERS AND BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE A SUBJECT FOR NATIONS IN THE “HIGH NORTH” BECAUSE CHINESE AND RUSSIAN VESSELS ARE USING WATER ROUTES IN THE REGION.

[MARK RUTTE]

“SO, WHEN IT COMES TO GREENLAND, YES OR NOT JOINING THE U.S., I WOULD LEAVE THAT OUTSIDE, FOR ME, THIS DISCUSSION, BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO DRAG NATO IN THAT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIGH NORTH AND THE ARCTIC, YOU’RE TOTALLY RIGHT. THE CHINESE ARE NOW USING THESE ROUTES. WE KNOW THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE ALREADY ARMING. WE KNOW WE HAVE A LACK OF ICEBREAKERS.”

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

TRUMP SAYS DENMARK IS REFUSING TO TALK ABOUT ANNEXATION AND SUGGESTS HE MAY SEND MORE U-S TROOPS TO AMERICAN BASES IN GREENLAND.

[DONALD TRUMP]

“WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH DENMARK, WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH GREENLAND, AND WE HAVE TO DO IT. WE REALLY NEED IT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. I THINK THAT’S WHY NATO MIGHT HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN A WAY, BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED GREENLAND FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT.”

TRUMP ALSO APPEARED TO SHED DOUBT ON DENMARK’S CLAIMS TO THE ISLAND DURING THE OVAL OFFICE NEWS BRIEFING.

[DONALD TRUMP]

“YOU KNOW, DENMARK’S VERY FAR AWAY, AND REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO. WHAT HAPPENS, A BOAT LANDED THERE 200 YEARS AGO OR SOMETHING? AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE RIGHTS TO IT. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S TRUE. I DON’T THINK IT IS.”

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

SURVEYS SHOW MOST GREENLANDERS ARE AGAINST JOINING THE U-S, THOUGH, A MAJORITY DO SUPPORT EVENTUAL INDEPENDENCE FROM DENMARK. 

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