Donald Trump addressed a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington DC on Wednesday, as captured in a photograph by Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters. The US president has left the possibility of using military force to acquire control of Greenland, the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory under Denmark, a fellow Nato member. Trump’s interest in expanding US territory into Greenland has caused concern and criticism both locally and globally. Greenland holds significance for defense and its potential mineral resources. In an interview on NBC’s Meet The Press, Trump was questioned about using force on Greenland but did not rule it out, emphasizing the territory’s importance for international security. The discussion also touched on the idea of using military force against Canada, which Trump found highly unlikely. While acknowledging a conversation with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump expressed openness to discussing the topic further. However, the majority of Canadians oppose the idea of merging with the US. Trump highlighted economic aspects, claiming that including Canada in the US would not burden the country financially and would be beneficial. A recent poll revealed that a majority of Americans took Trump’s statements about taking over Greenland and Canada seriously, although they did not support the idea of annexation in either case.
