Donald Trump doubled down on his threats to take control of Greenland during an Oval Office meeting with the head of NATO.
Trump has repeatedly said Greenland's strategic Arctic location makes it essential for U.S. security. The president sought to conscript NATO into his plans on Thursday, telling the alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte that NATO would play a key role in acquiring the mineral-rich island.
"We've been dealing with Denmark, we've been dealing with Greenland, and we have to do it. We really need it for national security. I think that's why NATO might have to get involved in a way, because we really need Greenland for national security. It's very important," Trump said.
Rutte demurred, saying he does not want to "drag" NATO into the issue, but Trump took a different view of the matter.
"You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security - international - we have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful," Trump told Rutte on Thursday. "We'll be talking to you."
Since reclaiming the White House, Trump has repeatedly threatened to take over Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal. Trump vowed the U.S. would acquire Greenland "one way or another" during his speech to Congress this month.
During Thursday's Oval Office meeting, Trump mocked NATO member Denmark over its claims to Greenland, which is physically closer to the U.S.
"You know, Denmark's very far away, and really has nothing to do. What happens, a boat landed there 200 years ago or something? And they say they have rights to it. I don't know if that's true. I don't think it is," he said.
Rutte praised Trump for pressuring America's NATO allies to make "staggering" increases in defense spending. Trump has long accused Europe of freeloading off the American military.
“You have to keep NATO strong. You have to keep it relevant,” Trump told Rutte.
Trump's meeting with Rutte came after recent elections in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. The outgoing prime minister of the island dismissed Trump's latest annexation comments.
"The US president has once again aired the thought of annexing us," Mute Egede said in a Facebook post. "Enough is enough."
While Greenland and Denmark have both rejected Trump's plan, speculation over Greenland's future is certain to continue with Russia and China increasing their presence in the Arctic.
"I think that will happen," Trump said when asked about annexation.
