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Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump choose for national security advisersaid on Wednesday that Greenland is important to national security, building on Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring the island territory.
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Waltz was asked to “tell us what the deal is” with Greenland, as mixed criticism has been voiced about the expansion.
“Well, look, this isn’t just about Greenland. This is about the Arctic. You have Russia trying to become king of the Arctic with over 60 icebreakers, some of them nuclear-powered. (Ya you know) how many we got, Jesse? We got two, and one just burned down,” the Florida Republican said.
“These are critical minerals,” he added. “This is about natural resources. This is about when the polar ice caps are retreating, the Chinese are now putting the icebreakers up and coming up as well. So it’s oil and gas. It’s our national security. It’s minerals critics”.
Waltz’s comments come as Trump has suggested taking control of Greenlanda semi-autonomous territory controlled by Denmark, would be a “great idea”. The president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also made a trip to the island earlier this week, a source told The Hill. that the visit it was “for a quick day trip to record fun video content for podcasts.”
“Don Jr. and my representatives land in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength and PEACE!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, which showed a video of his plane landing while surrounded by icy terrain. “This is a deal that has to happen. MAGIC. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
In the recent interview, Waltz also noted that “Denmark can be a great ally, but you can’t treat Greenland, which they have operational control over, as some kind of rejection.”
“It is in the Western Hemisphere, several presidents have tried to bring it to our sphere,” he added.
Despite the talk, many have been skeptical on whether this agreement it is possible. Officials in Denmark have done just that pushed backsaying the region is not for sale.
Trump has not ruled out ceding territory either military force — including the recovery of the Panama Canal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leaders have warned him on the threat, arguing that it is a long-standing principle that “borders should not be moved by force.”
The Hill has reached out to Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
