President Donald Trump has let slip a clue on his feelings towards expanding the territory of the United States with a telling three-word response. During an interview with Time the American leader was asked if he would like to be remembered as a president who expanded US territory.
Giving a hint of his feelings on the matter, Mr Trump replied “I wouldn’t mind”. The 78-year-old second term as US president has been notable for his statements about the soveriegnty of international neighbours, especially when he has talked about Canada and Greenland, a Danish territory.
During Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s final days as leader of Canada, Mr Trump repeatedly referred to him as the ‘governor’ of the US’s northern neighbour, and he openly declared Canada should become the 51st state of the US.
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also admitted this month that during his first meeting with President Trump the subject of Canada becoming part of the United States did come up again.
As well as Canada, the Trump administration has made repeated overtures towards Greenland. The massive frozen territory, which is the world’s largest island, sits in what Mr Trump regards as a key strategic position in the Arctic between the US and Russia.
The White House is also keen to access suspected huge mineral deposits which are thought to exist in the country, which is currently administered by Denmark, a key NATO ally.
The prime minister of Greenland has spoken against assertions that America will take control of the island territory.
PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post: “President Trump says that the United States ‘will get Greenland.’ Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future.”
US Vice President JD Vance visited an American military base in the far north of Greenland with his wife in March, prompting anger from local politicians and those in Denmark.
Speaking about the possibility of Greenland one day being part of the US, Mr Trump said: “I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without military force.
“This is world peace, this is international security, I don’t take anything off the table.”
