'Immediate negotiations': Trump revives call for US acquisition of Greenland at Davos

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Washington should open negotiations to acquire Greenland, arguing that only the US has the capacity to defend and develop the strategically important Arctic territory.

"I have tremendous respect for both the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark, tremendous respect. But every NATO ally has an obligation to be able to defend their own territory, and the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States," Trump said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump reiterated that the US needs Greenland for strategic national security.

"It's the United States alone that can protect this giant mass of land, this giant piece of ice, develop it and improve it and make it so that it's good for Europe and safe for Europe and good for us," he said.

The president said these considerations were driving his push for talks on a potential acquisition.

"And that's the reason I'm seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States," he added.