Rubio : informs Congress that Trump intends to purchase Greenland rather than take it over Report
Rubio: According to a Wall Street Journal story, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has informed US senators that President Donald Trump wants to negotiate with Denmark to buy Greenland and that the White House’s recent aggressive language does not portend an impending US military action.
According to those familiar with the conversation, Rubio made the comments during a closed-door meeting with congressional leaders in an attempt to minimize worries that the Trump administration was getting ready to use force to seize control of the Arctic island.
According to the article, Rubio said that rather than forcefully annexing Greenland, the administration’s goal is to put pressure on Denmark to engage in talks on the region’s future. The remarks coincide with Trump and his advisors’ increasingly aggressive public declarations in which they have refused to rule out the use of force.
Greenland has been presented by the White House as a national security priority on several occasions. According to White Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump is exploring “a range of options” to achieve his belief that purchasing Greenland is essential for US national security and for discouraging Arctic competitors.
Trump has maintained that US sovereignty over the island would provide access to vital minerals and help offset Chinese and Russian dominance in the Arctic.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, questioned Rubio about if the administration was thinking of using force not only in Greenland but also in other locations like Mexico. According to the article, Rubio’s remarks were intended to allay their anxieties.
The government has, however, given conflicting messages. One of Trump’s closest aides, Stephen Miller, said in a televised interview that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” but he did not rule out military action.
Trump has been direct. He told reporters on Air Force One that the US “needs Greenland from the standpoint of national security” and urged leaders in the US and Europe to recognize this.
Allies are concerned about the possibility of US military intervention. NATO nations have cautioned that the relationship would essentially come to an end if the United States attacked Greenland, a self-governing region within NATO partner Denmark.
There are no overt indications that the United States is planning an invasion, European officials told the Journal. Nevertheless, six European leaders have joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in advocating for “collective work” with the US on Arctic security because to the widespread concern of aggressive US intervention.
In response, Denmark has pledged billions of euros for Arctic defense infrastructure, offered more mining access, and suggested expanding US basing rights in Greenland.
According to polls included in the paper, the majority of Greenlanders are against joining the US, which further complicates Trump’s campaign.
Rubio’s remarks were made during a more comprehensive briefing on the US plan to overthrow Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This has increased legislators’ and allies’ fears that Trump is becoming more and more inclined to use force to change US foreign policy.
Rubio attempted to comfort Congress, but the Journal pointed out that Trump is still pushing Denmark to the bargaining table over the biggest island in the world while keeping all options open, including military ones.