"I could impose tariffs on countries that do not cooperate on the Greenland issue, because we need that island for national security. I could take such action", US President Donald Trump said at a White House meeting on 16/1, without elaborating.

President Trump's statement underscored his administration's perceived need for Greenland, linking the island directly to US national security interests. He specifically cited a potential "gap in national security" if the US did not control Greenland, particularly in relation to his missile defense plan, referred to as the "Vom Vang".

The US president compared this tariff threat to a similar warning he issued last year to European allies concerning pharmaceutical pricing. When questioned by reporters about a potential US withdrawal from NATO if the alliance did not assist Washington in controlling Greenland, President Trump indicated that the issue "would be considered" and that the US was in negotiations with NATO regarding the island.

US President Donald Trump at the White House on 16/1. *Photo: AP*

In response to Trump's escalating threats, NATO member countries in Europe recently expressed support for Denmark and Greenland. Some nations have deployed soldiers to the island to conduct reconnaissance missions, aiming to enhance the island's security.

President Trump has repeatedly asserted the necessity of controlling Greenland, an autonomous island belonging to Denmark, even suggesting the possibility of using force to achieve this objective. On 14/1, Danish and Greenlandic officials met at the White House with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but no agreement was reached on the island's future. Despite the European military presence, the White House affirmed that these forces would not impact US plans to control the territory.

Location of Greenland. *Graphic: Britannica*

Greenland is the world's largest island, situated near North America, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. The island has a population of 57,000 people and an area of approximately 2,16 million km2, making it larger than Mexico and more than three times the size of the US state of Texas.

Its strategic location on the shortest route from North America to Europe makes it an important asset for Washington. Additionally, Greenland possesses abundant, largely untapped mineral resources.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, Reuters, CNN)