Trump suggests U.S. should take ownership of Greenland
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President-elect Trump speaks in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday. Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
President-elect Trump indicated he wants Greenland under U.S. control as he named PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his pick for United States ambassador to Denmark on Sunday.
The latest: Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede made clear on Monday that the autonomous territory that's part of its kingdom of Denmark was not for sale.
- "Greenland is ours," Egede said on Facebook. "We are not for sale and will never be for sale."
The big picture: Trump said during his first administration that he was looking into the U.S. buying Greenland and canceled a state trip to Denmark after Danish officials said it was't for sale.
- He made his latest comments on Greenland after demanding earlier in the weekend that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships to transit the Panama Canal or return its control to the United States.
Driving the news: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump said in a post to Truth Social on Howery.
- "Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States."
- Representatives for both Trump and Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to Axios request for comment in the evening.
Background: The U.S. has on several occasions since 1867 considered or attempted to buy Greenland — the world's largest island that's not a continent.
- Greenland is part of the continent of North America, but it has close geopolitical ties to Europe and has received EU funding as it's classed as an overseas territory associated with the bloc via Denmark.
Between the lines: The territory has access to the Arctic, where there's been a race between nations for resources in a region that research shows is already feeling the impacts of climate change.
- Russia has in recent years sought to claim territory up to Greenland's Exclusive Economic Zone.
- Greenland's natural resources include gold, silver, copper and uranium and there's believed to be significant potential for oil in the waters off the territory.
Go deeper: The great game comes to Greenland
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
