U.S. Acquisition of Greenland Could Cost Up to $700 Bn as Trump Pushes Claim
Buying Greenland could cost the United States as much as $700 bn, according to estimates cited by officials, as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to acquire the Arctic island despite firm opposition from Denmark and Greenland.
The semi-autonomous Danish territory is not for sale, Copenhagen and Nuuk have repeatedly stressed. However, Mr Trump has insisted the U.S. will take control of Greenland «one way or the other,» citing national security concerns linked to the island’s strategic location and rare-earth mineral resources.
Talks in Washington this week between USA, Danish and Greenlandic officials failed to bridge what Denmark described as a «fundamental disagreement.» Academics and former US officials were asked to assess the potential cost of a takeover, with the $700bn figure equating to more than half of the US defence department’s annual budget.
Mr Trump has warned that Greenland is increasingly exposed to Russian and Chinese activity, claims that European officials have pushed back against. Sweden’s defence minister Pal Jonson said assessments showed such concerns were exaggerated, despite a limited rise in Chinese research vessels in the Arctic.
In response to rising tensions, several NATO countries including France, Germany, Sweden and Norway have announced troop deployments to Greenland for reconnaissance and training missions, while Denmark has stepped up its own military presence. European leaders say the move is intended to reinforce Arctic security and demonstrate that NATO allies can safeguard the region.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows limited domestic support for the plan, with just 17% of Americans backing Mr Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland and broad opposition to any military action.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Russia on December 15 expelled a British diplomat it accused of covert intelligence activity, warning the UK that Moscow would not accept what it described as espionage on Russian soil.
