Trump national security adviser says Greenland pursuit is 'about the Arctic'
Incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz is backing his boss when it comes to the United States trying to take control of Greenland, saying purchasing the country is essential to America’s national security.
“This is not just about Greenland,” Waltz told Fox News host Jesse Watters. “This is about the Arctic. You have Russia that is trying to become king ... this is about critical minerals, this is about natural resources … it's oil and gas. It's our national security. It's critical minerals.”
In a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump continued his longtime fascination with the United States controlling Greenland (as well as Canada and the Panama Canal), telling reporters “We need Greenland for national security purposes.”
“People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to [Greenland], but if they do they should give it up because we need it for national security,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago.
And while many dismiss Trump’s dream of controlling the country, he recently sent his son and a number of advisers to Greenland, which maintains autonomous rule but is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump could pursue a number of options to take control of the island, including purchasing it or striking a deal with Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in response to Trump Jr.’s visit, said Tuesday that “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.”