‘Not going to happen’: Blinken dismisses Trump’s idea of US owning Greenland

Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected President-elect Trump’s proposal for the US to acquire Greenland, saying it is “obviously” not going to happen.

“The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one, but maybe more important it’s obviously one that’s not going to happen, so we probably shouldn’t waste a lot of time talking about it,” The Hill quoted Blinken as saying at a press conference in Paris.

Blinken said that over the past four years the Biden administration has worked to support its allies and not saying or doing things that may alienate them.

“I think one of the basic propositions we brought to our work over the last four years is that we’re stronger, we’re more effective, we get better results when we’re working closely with our allies, not saying or doing things that may alienate them,” he added.

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During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Tuesday, Trump was asked about his recent interest in the Panama Canal and Greenland for potential American expansion and whether he would rule out using military force in those endeavors.

Trump responded by saying, “I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you have to do something.”

Following the controversy, Donald Trump Jr. made a day trip to Greenland, which is currently a territory of Denmark but has sought independence from the European nation.

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Denmark, however, has emphasised that the island is not for sale.

The president-elect’s proposal has met with skepticism from both political parties.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who was alongside Blinken at the press conference, supported the secretary of state’s comments.

“Like Tony, I will put a question to you: Do we believe that the United States will take over Greenland? The answer is no,” The Hill quoted Barrot as saying.

Earlier in the day, Barrot said that the EU won’t allow other countries to attack their sovereign borders, in response to Trump’s statement on Greenland.

“It is out of the question that the European Union would let other countries … attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are,” Politico quoted Barrot as saying on French radio.

Barrot added that he did not believe Trump would actually invade Greenland.

“If you’re asking me whether I think the United States will invade Greenland, my answer is no. But have we entered into a period of time when it is survival of the fittest? Then my answer is yes,” Barrot said.

Meanwhile, Denmark’s foreign minister said on Wednesday that Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a US state.

Greenland’s leader met with the Danish king in Copenhagen on Wednesday, a day after Trump’s remarks thrust the fate of the mineral-rich and strategically important island, which is under Danish rule, to the top of world headlines.

With inputs from agencies