Why China Is Central to Trump’s Greenland Plan

US President Donald Trump has said the United States needs to “own” Greenland to prevent Russia and China from gaining influence in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said countries must have ownership, not lease agreements, in order to properly defend territory. He added that the US would secure Greenland “the easy way or the hard way,” in response to a question from the BBC.

The White House recently confirmed that the administration is considering buying Greenland from Denmark, which governs the semi-autonomous territory. It also said it would not rule out annexing Greenland by force. Denmark and Greenland have both rejected the idea, stating clearly that Greenland is not for sale. Denmark warned that any military action would threaten the transatlantic defence alliance under NATO.

In a joint statement, Greenland’s political leaders said they reject what they described as US disrespect toward their country. They stressed that Greenlanders do not want to be Americans or Danes, and that the future of Greenland must be decided by its own people.

Greenland is sparsely populated but strategically important due to its location between North America and the Arctic. It plays a key role in early warning systems against missile attacks and in monitoring ships in the region.

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming it is surrounded by Russian and Chinese activity, though he has not provided evidence. The US already has more than 100 military personnel stationed at the Pituffik base in northern Greenland and can deploy more troops under existing agreements with Denmark.

However, Trump said lease agreements are not enough, arguing that countries must have full ownership to ensure long-term security. He also said he does not want Russia or China to have any presence near Greenland.

In response, Denmark’s NATO allies, including major European countries and Canada, reaffirmed that only Denmark and Greenland can decide their future. They said Arctic security should be handled collectively by allies and in line with international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.