The President of the United States, Donald Trump, repeated this Wednesday (21) that the USA wants to buy Greenland, following the example of what other European countries have already done to expand their territories.
“I am seeking negotiations to discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the USA, as we have done at other times in history. And as other European nations have already done, when purchasing territories. There is nothing wrong with that”, he added
When speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said that the desired country “is nothing more than a piece of ice” that was returned to Denmark by the USA after the Second World War.
“All the US is asking for is a place called Greenland, which we return to Denmark after defending it from the Germans, Japanese and Italians.”
The American president still said he does not intend to use force to acquire the region: “People thought I was going to use force. I don’t want to and I won’t use force. But who wants to defend that? It’s just a piece of ice in the middle of the ocean. But if there is a war, many actions will take place on that piece of ice”, he argued when stating that his interest in that region is due to its strategic location.
He denied that his interest in the country that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark is due to its mineral wealth. “It does not have [a ver com as] rare earths, especially because they are hundreds of meters below the ice. In fact, it is a matter of national and international strategic security.”
According to Trump, Denmark would be spending little to protect Greenlandand only the USA, alone, would be “in a position to guarantee the safety of this giant mass of ice, in addition to developing it, improving it and making it good for Europe and the USA”
NATO
He criticized NATO’s lack of counterparts for the USA, after the many contributions and aid it has given over the years to the other member countries of the group.
“We got nothing from NATO, even though we protected Europe from the Soviet Union and now Russia. We paid the NATO bill and got nothing. All we asked for in return is Greenland. That includes the right to property, because we need it to defend it,” Trump said.
“We built bases in Greenland to save Denmark and Greenland itself. If it weren’t for the US, they would be speaking German or Japanese today. That’s why they are being ungrateful now, since Greenland is a practically uninhabitable and undeveloped territory. Undefended, but in a key location to keep our potential enemies at bay,” said the US president.
“It’s a very small request, compared to what we’ve already given them. All I ask for is a piece of ice so I can protect the world, like the best war equipment in existence,” he added, emphasizing that “the USA is back. Bigger and stronger than ever.”
Venezuela
Regarding Venezuela, Trump defended his government’s actions in Venezuelan territory, which resulted in the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“Venezuela is doing well. It’s been a fantastic thing, what’s happening with Venezuela. They are now making more money,” he said, highlighting that oil companies are already aligning themselves with the US, aiming to extract oil in the South American country.
According to Trump, Venezuelan oil is already resulting in a drop in fuel prices in US territory
Internal politics
Trump took the opportunity to offer numerous self-congratulations regarding the internal policies he has been implementing in his country. Recalling that he took office for his second term a year ago, he said that expectations for economic growth are high, and highlighted that it is already defeating inflation in the USA.
This, according to him, despite the country having the “terrible”, in Trump’s words, Jerome Powel at the head of its central bank – who has been harshly criticized publicly for not reducing interest rates.
“But I’m going to announce the new president of the FED soon. All the candidates are great,” Trump said. “The problem is that after they take over they do something else, and increase interest rates”, he pondered.
According to him, the American population approves of his government, since his policies have benefited several sectors, generating jobs and tax cuts.
“What is happening is a miracle,” he said, also highlighting the reduction of the fiscal deficit in the USA.
Europe
Regarding Europe, he said that the old continent “is in the wrong direction”, and that it is making mistakes on several fronts, specifically citing energy policies – which, according to him, are a catastrophe for investing in renewable sources such as wind – and immigration, something that, in Trump’s assessment, will harm Europeans.
“In the USA we cut social aid for immigrants”, he highlighted.
“Europe has to do its part. We want strong allies, and Europe needs to be strong”, he added while reiterating his defense of the US policy of using tariffs as a way of rebalancing trade with other countries.
