Greenland PM Says Island is ‘Not For Sale’ After Trump Suggests US Purchase

President-elect Donald Trump has reignited his push for the United States to purchase Greenland, revisiting a proposal he first floated during his initial term in office. At the time, the idea of buying the territory from Denmark was met with widespread skepticism and ultimately disappeared.

When announcing his pick for the next U.S. ambassador to Denmark, of which Greenland has been part for over 600 years, Trump declared, “for purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

Trump’s renewed call to acquire Greenland comes on the heels of another bold suggestion: that the U.S. should “retake” control of the Panama Canal. This statement has already sparked diplomatic tensions with Panama and drawn criticism from Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Trump wants to buy Greenland, now has eyes on Canada

Trump’s ever-controversial discourse has recently become more challenging, and he has taken to mocking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by calling him governor of the “Great State of Canada” or of the 51st state of the U.S.

Greenland is the biggest island in the world. It sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and its territory is 80% covered by ice. Trump’s interest in the ice-covered island stems from the large military U.S. base that is located there. 

Greenland gained home rule from Denmark in 1979. The island’s Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, has already said that Trump’s latest comments regarding purchasing Greenland are as meaningless as the ones he made during his first administration. 

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom,” Egede said.

Trump’s relationship with Denmark has been icy. In 2019 the president-elect canceled a visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected and dismissed by the central government in Copenhagen. 

Trump clashes with Panama President Jose Raul Mulino and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro

Over the weekend, President Trump also sparked controversy in South America, after he implied the U.S. was getting overcharged for its use of the Panama Canal. The U.S. built the canal in the early 20th century, but relinquished control of the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999, through a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. 

“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” Trump said.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino responded with a video on social media saying that “Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama, and will continue to.” Trump then replied on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying: “We’ll see about that!”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro also published a statement on social media, that he would stand with neighboring Panama and the defense of its sovereignty, no matter the consequences. 

Petro also said that if the incoming Trump administration wanted to talk about business, they would talk as equals, and to benefit their people, while adding that “dignity would not be negotiated.”