One of Donald Trump’s senior advisors has increased tensions on Denmark by disputing Copenhagen’s claim to Greenland.
Stephen Miller, stated emphatically the use of armed force would not be necessary to assume control of the Arctic territory because “no nation would engage the United States militarily over the future of Greenland”.
“The idea of military action against Greenland? Greenland has a population of 30,000 people,” he incorrectly stated, the correct number being closer to 57,000.
He also suggested that Denmark does not have a legitimate right to the territory, which is a one-time colonial possession and remains part of the Danish kingdom.
These remarks follow a period of growing tensions between the two NATO allies after the American leader's repeated interest to annex Greenland.
The Danish foreign policy committee has called an emergency session to discuss the kingdom’s relationship with the United States.
In his interview, Miller asserted that dominion of the island could be gained without military intervention due to its small population.
“The core issue is what right does Denmark have to assert control over Greenland? What legal foundation of their territorial claim?” Miller questioned.
He added: “The US is the dominant force in NATO. For the US to secure the Arctic region to safeguard the alliance, it is logical that Greenland should be incorporated into the United States.”
There was, he said “no requirement to even consider or discuss” a armed takeover in Greenland, reiterating: “Nobody is going to fight the US militarily.”
These statements followed Trump said over the weekend, following events in Venezuela, that the US desired the territory “urgently”.
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, responded by warning that an attack by the US a fellow alliance member would mean the collapse of the defensive pact and “post-Second World War security”.
Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also made a strong statement, calling on the US president to abandon his “fantasies about annexation” and accused the US of being “completely and utterly unacceptable”.
Miller’s comments were preceded by his wife, a conservative commentator, posted a digital image of Greenland draped in a US flag with the caption “IN THE NEAR FUTURE”.
Asked about the online image, he responded by stating: “This has represented the official stance of the US government from the beginning of this administration... Donald Trump has been explicit about that.”
The territory was under colonial rule until 1953, when it was integrated of the Danish realm. The US has had a military base there, critical to its ballistic missile early warning system.
Recently, there has been increasing sentiment for Greenlandic independence, particularly after revelations about Denmark’s treatment of Greenlandic people.
But amid the prospect of acquisition talk, Greenland in March formed a new unity government in a show of national unity, with its agreement stating: “We are the rightful owners of Greenland.”
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