US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened “very-high” tariffs on Denmark if it resists his effort to take control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Asked on Tuesday if he would rule out using military or economic force in order to take control of the strategically-important island, he said: “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two.”
“I can say this, we need them for economic security,” he said.
Trump’s remarks came as his son, Donald Trump Jr, visited Greenland on the same day.
Before arriving in the capital Nuuk, Trump Jr said he was going on a “personal day-trip” to talk to people, and had no meetings planned with government officials.
When asked about Trump Jr’s visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish TV that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that only the local population could determine their future.
She agreed that “Greenland is not for sale”, but stressed Denmark needed very close co-operation with the US, a close Nato ally.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow.
