US President-elect Donald Trump reignited the debate over Greenland on Monday, calling the control and ownership of the autonomous Danish territory an “absolute necessity” for the United States.
Trump shared his views on Truth Social while announcing Ken Howery, co-founder of PayPal, as his nominee for US ambassador to Denmark.
“For the sake of National Security and Freedom worldwide, the United States believes that owning and controlling Greenland is an absolute necessity. Ken will do an excellent job representing US interests,” Trump wrote.
Although Greenland gained autonomy from Denmark in 1979, it still depends on Copenhagen for foreign affairs, security, and financial support. The territory is rich in natural resources, including uranium, gold, oil, and gas.
In 1946, then-President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold to purchase Greenland. More recently, in 2019, President Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring the island led to a brief diplomatic rift with Denmark, culminating in the cancellation of a planned state visit.
