United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believes an acceptable solution will be reached with NATO allies in the dispute over Greenland, the strategic Arctic territory that has caused tensions with several European countries.
“I think we will find a solution that NATO will be very happy with and that we will be very happy with,” he said in Washington. “But we need this for security reasons. We need it for national security and even global security. This is very important,” Trump said.
He stated that the issue will also be discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos and that the parties are interested in finding a way forward.
Trump said the American side believes the security benefits of an agreement could be great for all allies.
This statement comes as the US has fueled debate about its role in the Arctic, arguing that Russia and China pose strategic challenges in the region, while some European leaders have opposed ideas of American control over Greenland, stressing that it should be decided by the Greenlandic people and Denmark, with full respect for their sovereignty.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed readiness to find a "way forward" on the issue, stressing the need for further cooperation between allies to maintain security in the Arctic and beyond.
Since the resurgence of the debate over Greenland as a US strategic objective, the idea of purchasing or some other form of control has prompted strong reactions in Europe, where leaders have called for respect for international law and the sovereignty of allied countries.
