Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland is “not a joke,” emphasizing that acquiring the semi-autonomous Danish territory is in the US “national interest.”
During The Megyn Kelly Show, Rubio reiterated that Trump is serious about buying Greenland and highlighted that the president has not ruled out using military force to secure the territory.
“This is not a joke. This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved,” Rubio said.
When asked about a specific timeline, Rubio explained his inability to provide one. “Obviously, that’s the president’s priority, and he has made that point. We’re not in a position yet to discuss exactly how we’ll proceed tactically. What I think you can rest assured of is that four years from now, our interest in the Arctic will be more secure,” Rubio added.
The Secretary of State also emphasized that the Arctic region will become a crucial shipping route that the US “needs to defend” and expressed concern that China may try to expand its presence there.
The US military operates a permanent base in northwestern Greenland, which serves as a ballistic missile early-warning system.
What Greenland has to say?
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has increased efforts for the island’s independence from Denmark, has consistently stated that Greenland is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future.
A recent poll, published in the Danish Berlingske and Greenland’s Sermitsiaq dailies, found that 85 percent of Greenlanders do not want to join the US.
On Thursday, European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized that Denmark’s sovereignty is an “essential issue” for the EU.
The US-led NATO military alliance and Denmark agreed in a meeting on Tuesday to focus on strengthening Arctic defenses. Copenhagen announced it would boost Arctic defense spending by $2 billion.