- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argues that Greenland is essential for the Golden Dome missile defense program, intercepting potential threats from Russia, China and North Korea via Arctic missile routes.
- Trump insists on outright U.S. acquisition (not leasing) to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting Greenland's strategic position, fearing it could drag the U.S. into a conflict.
- Trump imposed 10% tariffs on eight North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations opposing U.S. control, citing concerns similar to the UK's Chagos Islands handover to China-linked Mauritius as a warning.
- Melting ice opens new shipping and resource opportunities, making Greenland a contested zone. Trump's stance mirrors historical expansions like the Alaska Purchase, prioritizing unilateral control over reliance on allies.
- Greenland's government rejects annexation, NATO allies resist Trump's tactics and logistical hurdles remain. The move risks deepening global divisions while aiming to secure U.S. dominance in Arctic strategy.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out a bold rationale for President Donald Trump's controversial push to acquire Greenland: national security.
According to Bessent, Greenland is "essential" to the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense program, designed to counter threats from Russia, China and North Korea. But with Greenland's residents resistant to U.S. annexation and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies facing tariffs over the dispute, the geopolitical stakes are higher than ever.
Greenland's role in missile defense
Bessent emphasized that Greenland's location makes it a critical asset for intercepting potential missile attacks.
"Missiles from adversaries would travel most expediently through the Arctic if aimed at the United States," he told Fox Business. Trump's insistence on outright ownership, rather than leasing agreements, stems from fears that foreign powers could exploit Greenland's strategic position.
"The president is worried that if there were an incursion into Greenland, the U.S. would be called upon to defend Greenland," Bessent said. He warned that without U.S. control, the island could become a flashpoint for conflict, drawing America into a "kinetic war."
NATO tensions and economic retaliation
Trump's stance has already triggered diplomatic friction. Ahead of the forum, he imposed 10% tariffs on eight NATO nations – Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland. BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that it was an economic retaliation for their opposition to U.S. efforts to assert control over Greenland, framing it as a defense of American interests against globalist interference.
Bessent defended the move, citing the U.K.'s controversial handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which has ties to China, as a cautionary tale.
"Why not preempt the problem before it starts?" Bessent asked on CNBC's "Squawk Box." He argued that Greenland's acquisition would prevent adversaries like Russia or China from gaining a foothold in the Arctic.
Historical context and Arctic rivalries
Greenland's strategic value has grown as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and resource extraction opportunities. The U.S. already maintains Thule Air Base there, a Cold War-era installation. But Trump's push for ownership reflects a broader shift, away from reliance on allies and toward unilateral control of key territories.
In a Truth Social post, Trump framed the issue in stark terms: "If we don't [acquire Greenland], Russia or China will." His rhetoric echoes past U.S. expansions, like the Alaska Purchase of 1867, which secured territory seen as vital to hemispheric defense.
While Bessent portrays Greenland as a linchpin of U.S. security, the proposal faces steep political and logistical hurdles. Greenland's government has repeatedly rejected annexation and NATO allies bristle at Trump's strong-arm tactics. Whether this gambit strengthens America's defenses or deepens global divisions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: in the high-stakes game of Arctic geopolitics, Trump is playing for keeps.
Watch the video below that talks about why the Trump administration is eyeing Greenland.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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