Donald Trump has taken to Instagram in a major swipe at Europe and Greenland. The official White House page uploaded an edited picture of what was originally the US President looking out at the construction site of his new multi-million-dollar ballroom.
The posted image, however, has edited the background, swapping the building site for a map of Greenland. Accompanying the post is the caption: “Monitoring the situation”. The post comes just hours after Mr Trump insisted the US would take control of the Danish-administered territory “one way or another”. Previously, the US President confirmed he wanted to make a deal with Greenland, claiming it would be “easier” than taking control through military actions. He warned that if the US does not make the move, Russia or China will.
He also issued a blunt warning to NATO that “it may be a choice” between preserving the military alliance and seizing the territory.
“If it affects NATO, then it affects NATO,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday (January 12). “But, you know, they need us much more than we need them, I will tell you that right now.”
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US invasion would mean the end of NATO.
The US currently owns a military base in the Arctic territory and, under the Defence of Greenland Agreement signed in 1951, is entitled to expand its presence there. However, Mr Trump has insisted America must own the island outright for “national protection”.
Also on Monday, Mr Trump said: “Greenland, basically, their defence is two dogsleds. In the meantime, you have Russian destroyers and submarines, and Chinese destroyers and submarines all over the place. We’re not gonna let that happen”.
However, the US President has provided no evidence to back up his claims that Russian and Chinese vessels are operating near Greenland – a fact that Denmark has also disputed.
Responding to Mr Trump’s claims that the US needed to own Greenland to prevent China from occupying it in the future, Beijing slammed the US for using other countries as an excuse to advance its own strategic interests.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “The Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community,” adding that China’s activities in the Arctic aim to promote stability and sustainable development in the region. He also said that all countries’ rights and freedoms to operate lawfully in the Arctic should be respected.