Trump claims the U.S. must own the entire Greenland, White House "island purchase" plan leaks

Recently, the United States has once again fallen into discord with Denmark and Europe over the issue of "seizing Greenland."

On the 6th, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was the first to express the possibility of "using U.S. military forces" to seize Greenland. President Trump further emphasized in a media interview published on the 8th that the U.S. must "own" the entire Greenland, not just the existing lease agreements.

While the U.S. continues to escalate threats, on the 8th, it was reported that Danish and Greenlandic diplomats in the U.S. had met with White House officials that day to discuss the "threat of U.S. military action." The Danish side is also actively reaching out to and lobbying U.S. lawmakers in an attempt to persuade the Trump administration to stop the "island-seizing" threats.

The rift across the Atlantic between the U.S. and Europe is gradually deepening amid ongoing discord between the two sides.

Trump: The U.S. Must Own the Entire Greenland

According to an interview with Trump published on the 8th, President Trump clearly stated that the U.S. must "own" the entire Greenland, not just exercise military and defense rights based on existing treaties. According to Trump, ownership itself has strategic value that cannot be obtained through leasing or treaties. He said in the interview: "Ownership gives you elements that you can't get just by signing documents."

Under a treaty signed in 1951 between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland, the U.S. has extensive rights to establish military bases and defense facilities in Greenland. In light of this, some analysts pointed out that Trump's remarks clearly express that the current treaty is insufficient to meet the U.S.'s strategic needs, and that the U.S. requires more direct and comprehensive control over the island.

White House "Island Purchase" Plan Leaked

Two anonymous sources revealed on the 8th that a "purchase island" plan is currently being discussed internally at the White House. Although the specific amount and payment method are unclear, U.S. officials, including White House aides, have discussed making a one-time payment to Greenlanders to persuade them to break away from Denmark and possibly join the U.S.

If the plan is implemented, each Greenland resident could receive between $10,000 and $100,000. However, as of now, the specific amount and operational methods of the plan have not been determined.

EU: U.S. Threats "Extremely Concerning"

In response to the recent statements made by the U.S. regarding Greenland, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated on the 8th at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt, that the U.S. threats regarding Greenland are "extremely concerning" and called on the U.S. to respect international law.

Additionally, Borrell revealed at the same press conference that the EU has begun discussing possible countermeasures in response to the U.S.'s potential military threats.

Borrell stated, "European countries are discussing how to respond if the U.S. threats are real."

Danish Diplomats in the U.S. Have Started Lobbying

Shortly after Borrell's related statement, on the 8th, news emerged from Washington D.C. that advisors to the Trump administration met that day at the White House with representatives from Denmark and Greenland to discuss related issuesMore detailed content shows that officials from the Trump administration attempted to tone down the president's remarks about "taking over" Greenland during talks, sending a more restrained signal to Denmark and Greenland. However, this content has not yet been confirmed by the White House.

In addition, there are reports that diplomats from Denmark and Greenland are actively contacting U.S. congressional members, trying to persuade them to convince Trump to abandon his plans regarding Greenland.

Both Greenland and Denmark have consistently opposed the U.S. "takeover" discussions. A Danish parliament member from Greenland has explicitly stated that Greenland will never be sold.

Danish parliament member from Greenland, Aaja Chemnitz: Greenland is not for sale and will never be sold. From Greenland's perspective, nothing has changed.

The Greenland Issue Deepens Transatlantic Rift Again

In response to the U.S. expressing ambitions over Greenland once again, many in Europe and even within the U.S. have voiced strong criticism. On the 6th, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK issued a joint statement emphasizing that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide matters concerning themselves.

Analysts point out that the U.S. ambitions will once again significantly impact transatlantic ally relations. Some U.S. congressional representatives have accused the U.S. government of showing no respect for international law and national sovereignty, undermining relations with allies. Democratic Congressman Adam Smith: They always say "no options are off the table." Do you have any respect for international law and national sovereignty? Currently, there is no evidence that they do. This will undoubtedly make the world more dangerous. If we claim that sovereignty doesn't matter, that international law doesn't matter, and that as long as we are strong enough we can do whatever we want, even threatening countries like Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and Denmark, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: I believe this administration has made it clear that they want to undermine our relationships with Atlantic coastal countries, transatlantic allies, and countries around the world. We see the U.S. relationship with allies being reshuffled, which deeply concerns many in the Western Hemisphere.

"The Ally America Has Become a Clear Threat to Europe"

The U.S. Washington Post commented on the 6th with the title "The Greenland Crisis Has Arrived," stating that European officials often cite a rules-based international order, but after the Venezuela crisis, the Trump administration seems to believe that "might makes right." A year ago, people viewed Trump's desire to annex Greenland as another bluff after his return to the White House, but now, no one sees it as a joke anymore.

The European Dynamics website commented on the 6th with the title "Europe Once Worried About Losing Allies, Now They Are the Ones to Be Wary Of," stating, "Trump's Greenland ambitions expose Europe's deepest weakness: the allies it relies on now pose the clearest threat to its security." The article also warns that we are entering a new world where "might makes right" — and Europeans are completely unprepared for this. Perhaps the humiliation that Greenland could bring will prompt Europeans to reflect on this situation and ultimately take action to change it

If the U.S. Uses Military Force Against Greenland, the U.S.-EU Ally Relationship Will End

Cui Hongjian, director of the EU and Regional Development Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, analyzes that amid the escalating U.S.-EU contradictions triggered by the current U.S. threat to seize Greenland, both sides will enter a phase of intense and tense competition in the future. If the U.S. truly resorts to military means, it would signify the end of the ally relationship between the U.S. and Europe.

Cui Hongjian, director of the EU and Regional Development Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University: The U.S. is now adopting a stance of threatening with military means while seeking negotiations with Denmark to resolve the issue. However, it is evident that in the short term, both Denmark and Europe are unlikely to abandon their existing positions. The reactions from Denmark and Europe are relatively strong. If the U.S. employs military means, it means that the so-called ally relationship with the U.S. has reached its end for Europe and Denmark.

U.S. Unilateral Hegemony Betrays Allies, Prompting Europe Towards Autonomous Defense

Cui Hongjian further analyzes that the current U.S.-EU dispute over Greenland has showcased U.S. unilateral hegemony, which has severely harmed Europe in this incident.

Therefore, for Europe, there is little reason to continue indulging in the past so-called security guarantees provided by the U.S., and it needs to shift towards a truly independent foreign and security policy.

CCTV News

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