President Trump: If We Don't Take Greenland, Russia or China Will Do It

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States would seize Greenland "by any means," warning Russia or China would "take over" if Washington did not act.

President Trump said controlling the mineral-rich Danish territory is vital for US national security, given Russia's and China's increased military activity in the Arctic.

"If we don't seize Greenland, Russia or China will do it, and I won't let that happen," President Trump told reporters on Air Force One, although no country claims the vast island, Al Arabiya reported from AFP (12/1).

President Trump said he would be open to making a deal with the Danish autonomous region "but whatever it is, we're going to have Greenland."

Meanwhile, Denmark and other European allies have expressed alarm at Trump's threats against the island, which plays a strategic role between North America and the Arctic, and where the United States has had a military base since World War II.

A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained self-rule 26 years later and is considering eventually loosening its ties with Denmark.

Most residents and his political party have said they do not want to be under US control, insisting Greenlanders should determine their own future, a view consistently opposed by President Trump.

"Greenland has to make a deal, because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over," President Trump warned, mocking Greenland's defenses.

"You know what their defense is, two sled dogs," he said, while Russia and China have "destroyer and submarines everywhere."

Previously, the Danish Prime Minister warned last week that any US move to take over Greenland by force would destroy 80 years of transatlantic security relations.

President Trump shot back at the comments by saying: "If it affects NATO, it affects NATO. But you know, (Greenland) needs us more than we need them."