In a press conference At his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Tuesday, US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed his desire to acquire Greenland, which he said was essential to US national security.

The Republican leader, who is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, refused to rule out the use of military or economic force to achieve the goal of controlling the autonomous Danish territory.

Trump also said he wants to make Canada the 51st state in the United States and control it Panama Canalas part of his endeavors for territorial expansion of the United States ever since Winning the elections In November.

So why does Trump want to acquire Greenland? 80 percent covered In the snow and more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) from Washington, D.C.? Is this the first time the United States has tried to acquire Greenland?

Where is Greenland located? What is her status?

Located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, Greenland is the largest island in the world and a geographic part of North America. Although Australia is much larger and surrounded by water, it is not considered an island because it is a continent.

About 56 thousand people live in Greenland, most of them… Indigenous Inuit people.

Its capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York (about 2,900 kilometers or 1,800 miles) than Copenhagen, which lies 3,500 kilometers (2,174 miles) to the east.

The island was under Danish rule from the early 18th century until 1979, when it became an autonomous region. Since 2009, Greenland has had the right to declare independence through a referendum.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mott Egedy, called for independence from Denmark.

The Arctic island is one of two autonomous regions of Denmark, the other being the Faroe Islands.

Since Denmark is part of NATOGreenland is by default part of the NATO military alliance.

Greenland is not a member state of the European Union, but is associated with it as one of the 25 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the European Union. “OCT citizens are EU citizens”, EU Law website He says. Therefore, Greenlanders are considered citizens of the European Union.

In 1973, Greenland joined the now-defunct European Community along with Denmark, but left in 1985. The European Community was replaced by the European Union.

The European Union did not officially comment on Trump’s recent statements.

How did Greenland and Denmark react to Trump’s threats?

On December 23, Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth that “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

In addition, Greenland’s Prime Minister-elect Egedi said that the island is not for sale. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Egedi said in a written comment.

The Danish government has announced it will boost defense spending in Greenland by up to $1.5 billion following Trump’s desire to seize the self-governing island.

On Tuesday, ahead of his son Donald Trump Jr.’s trip to Greenland, the US president-elect once again posted on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Greenland is a wonderful place, and people will benefit greatly if, and when, it becomes part of our nation….”

Following Trump’s latest comments, Egedi met with King Frederik X of Denmark in Copenhagen on Wednesday, but details of the meeting have not been announced.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” while her Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that the island had no ambition to become a federal state in the United States.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

This is not the first time that Trump has expressed his desire to control the island, which hosts an American military base. Trump canceled his trip to Copenhagen after Denmark, a close ally of the United States, rejected his offer to buy the island during his first term.

Greenland provides the shortest route from North America to Europe. This gives the United States a strategic upper hand with its military and ballistic missile early warning system.

The United States has expressed interest in expanding its military presence in Greenland by placing radars in waters linking Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. These waters represent a gateway for Russian and Chinese ships, which Washington aims to track.

The island is also incredibly rich in minerals, including rare earth minerals used in batteries and the high-tech industry.

According to a 2023 survey, 25 out of 34 minerals considered by the European Commission to be “important raw materials” were found in Greenland.

Greenland does not extract oil and gas, and its mining sector is opposed by indigenous people. The island’s economy is largely based on the fishing industry.

Has the United States ever tried to buy Greenland?

Yes. The United States has long expressed interest in Greenland.

The United States has considered buying Greenland at least twice, including in 1867 and then in 1946, when President Harry Truman proposed buying it for $100 million. Denmark rejected the offer.

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia. Afterwards, US Secretary of State William Seward attempted to negotiate the purchase of Greenland from Russia, but the attempt failed.

The United States occupied Greenland in 1941 after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark during World War II. It established a military and radio presence on the island, and US forces have maintained a permanent presence at the Petovik Cosmodrome, formerly known as Thule Air Base, in northwest Greenland ever since.

While Greenland was still a Danish colony in 1946, Truman offered to buy the island for $100 million, an offer that Denmark rejected. This was done in Cold War secrecy and was only made public in 1991 in an Associated Press report.

Mercator projection: How big is Greenland?

Some maps of the world today can be misleading in terms of how big Greenland actually is. The Arctic island has an area of ​​2.17 million square kilometers (836,330 square miles), making it about three times the size of the US state of Texas.

However, the Danish territory is viewed as larger based on maps. This is because modern world maps usually use a template called Mercator projectioncreated by European cartographer Gert de Cremer in 1569. This projection has been criticized for distorting the proportions of land masses.

The Mercator map shows that Greenland is roughly the size of Africa. However, in reality, 14 Greenland islands could fit within Africa.

Why did Trump’s son visit Greenland?

Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr Arrived in Greenland Tuesday. The Greenlandic government said Trump Jr. was visiting the island “as a private individual” and had not been met by Greenlandic representatives.

Despite this, Trump took to his Social Truth platform on Monday, writing: “I hear the people of Greenland are MAGA,” referring to the Make America Great Again movement.

“My son Don Jr. and several of the cast will be traveling there to visit some great areas and attractions.

Trump added: “Greenland is a wonderful place, and people will benefit greatly from it if and when it becomes part of our nation.” “We will protect and cherish her from a very evil outside world.”

How did the world react?

Trump’s recent statements angered some European leaders.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Trump’s idea on Wednesday. “Borders must not be moved by force. This principle applies to every country, whether in the East or the West.”

“In talks with our European partners, there is unease about the recent statements of the United States. It is clear: we must stand together.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told national radio on Wednesday that “there is no doubt that the European Union will allow other countries in the world, whoever they may be… to attack its sovereign borders.”