UPDATE:
WATCH: President Trump says Danish PM’s comments on his interest in buying Greenland were “nasty.” https://t.co/anaFMxDPtk pic.twitter.com/13iYdSS8al
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) August 21, 2019
....Because of me, these countries have agreed to pay ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS more - but still way short of what they should pay for the incredible military protection provided. Sorry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
***Original post***
After plans for the United States to reportedly make an attempt to buy Greenland leaked earlier this week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated the territory isn't for sale but is open for business.
"Greenland is not for sale": Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reacts to Pres. Trump's idea of buying the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 19, 2019
"Thankfully, the time where you buy and sell other countries and populations is over," she adds https://t.co/sTd3LoZG4f pic.twitter.com/0a0wAGjPX8
In response, President Trump just cancelled a meeting with Frederiksen.
....The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Earlier this week, he tweeted this:
I promise not to do this to Greenland! pic.twitter.com/03DdyVU6HA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
In all seriousness, the move to acquire Greenland is a way for the United States to combat the Chinese and Russians as they become more aggressive in the Arctic. It's not only a strategic location, but is ripe with natural resources and rare earth minerals. Also, other Presidents have floated the idea.
A Chinese government-backed group’s offer last year to build three new international airports on Greenland sparked alarms in Copenhagen and Washington.
The Chinese plan was finally nixed in exchange for Danish funding and a pledge of support from the Pentagon.
Trump is not the first US president to consider such an offer – the Truman administration reportedly offered Denmark US$100 million for Greenland’s purchase after World War II.
In 1917 Denmark sold off the then Danish West Indies islands for US$25 million to the United States, which renamed them the United States Virgin Islands.
Greenland has been essential to US defence since that war when it was a base for monitoring Nazi ships and submarines passing through the “Arctic Avenue”, the sea gateway to the north Atlantic.
Is President Trump really walking away from Greenland? Or is this the beginning of the "art of the deal"?