US President Marco Rubio said on Thursday, after Denmark’s reaction to his comments about the independent Danish territories was that US President Donald Trump is serious about the desire to buy Greenland.
In an interview, Rubio said that the United States is not considering military action against Denmark, a NATO ally, but he stressed that Trump’s interest in Greenland is real. “This is not a joke,” he said.
“President Trump’s position there is what he intends to do,” Rubio told Siriusxm Radio.
“This is not a matter of obtaining land for the purpose of obtaining land. This is in our national interest and must be resolved,” he said.
Rubio also mentioned the defense obligations in NATO, Denmark.
“We have a defensive agreement with them to protect Greenland if it is under attack,” he said. “If we are already on a hook because of the having to do so, we may have more control over what is happening there.”
Danish Prime Minister Metty Frederksen spoke to European allies about Trump’s comments. She also had a phone conversation with Trump, which she described as tense.
Rubio said he was not on the call, but added that Trump “spoke frankly and frankly with people.”
“In the end, I think diplomacy in many cases works better when it is clear rather than using paintings and language that does not translate into nothing.”
Rubio also expressed concern about China’s interest in Greenland. He warned that China, which seeks to reach the Arctic, could expand its impact there through the state -run companies.
“It is completely realistic to believe that the Chinese will eventually try, even in the short term, to do in Greenland what they did in Panama Channel and elsewhere.”
