Trump Wants To Annex Greenland Using Military, What's Denmark's Reaction?

Greenland area in Denmark. (Gielda-Visit film Greenland-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - US President-elect Donald Trump said he would not rule out the use of military force to control the Panama and Greenland Canal.

He said this when answering the question of whether Trump allowed the use of the US military to secure the two regions. At the same time, delegates, aides and advisers who included Donald Trump Jr. were in Greenland, on Monday January 8, quoted from AP.

"Maybe you should do something. The Panama Canal is very important for our country," Trump said in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, quoted from AP, Tuesday, January 8.

According to Trump, US control over the two regions in Panama and Denmark is critical to US national security.

Trump's intention marks the rejection of US policy for decades that has prioritized self-determining rather than expanding territory.

"We need Greenland for national security purposes," Trump said.

Greenland, which is home to a large US military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, an longtime US ally and a member of NATO founder. Trump doubts the validity of Denmark's claim to Greenland.

The Panamanian Canal has been fully controlled by Panama for more than 25 years. The US returned the Panama Canal Zone to the country in 1979 and ended its cooperation in controlling the strategic waterway in 1999.

While Greenland is part of the Danish state.

Responding to Trump's comments, Danish Prime Minister (PM) Mette Frederiksen said the US was Denmark's "most important and closest ally".

Danish PM then did not believe the US would use military or economic power to secure control of Greenland.

Furthermore, he welcomed the US, which pays greater attention to the Arctic region, but these methods should not hurt Greenland residents.

"It must be done in a way that respects the people of Greenland," said Danish Prime Minister.

"At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to continue to work together, among others, in NATO," he continued.