While meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said that he was convinced that the United States would annex Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, according to US news reports.
According to Xinhua News Agency quoting The Hill, Trump appeared quite assured about the possibility, even suggesting that the NATO leader would have a part to play in making it possible.
"I believe that it will take place," Trump told reporters who were present in the Oval Office meeting.
Rutte maintained a distance from the topic and said that there were talks with Trump about his intentions to buy Greenland, and that was something outside his arena and that NATO should not become involved, according to the report.
Trump went on to make further remarks about the historical past of Greenland, stating, "A boat landed there 200 years ago or something. They say they have rights to it," before stating, "I don't know if that's true. I don't think it is, actually," according to the report.
The former US president also pointed out that the United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland and suggested that "maybe you’ll see more and more soldiers going there," according to the report.
Trump has been vocal about his ambition to obtain Greenland since early this year, even hinting at the possibility of using force to achieve his goal.
In response to Trump's position, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently reaffirmed that the future of Greenland is for its citizens to decide.
In other news, Greenland's Demokraatit (Democrats) party won Tuesday's parliamentary election, according to initial results published by the Central Election Committee on Wednesday. The party, which believes in gradual moves toward independence from Denmark, has been vehemently against Trump's comments regarding annexation.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is inhabited by about 60,000 people. It was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark and, as such, Greenlanders became Danish citizens. In 1979, home rule was established in Greenland, giving it greater autonomy while leaving foreign and defense matters in Denmark's hands.
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