New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Friday again hinted at using force to take over Greenland as he rebuffed Denmark’s sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic island. Trump said that he wants to make an easy deal to seize Greenland, but the plan fell through, he would do it the hard way, signalling that the US could use military force to take control of the island.

The Trump administration has long been eyeing the autonomous island, a call that has been met with strong opposition from Greenlanders and other NATO countries, including Denmark, which still controls Greenland’s defence and foreign policy. The US wants to take control of the island territory due to its strategic location in the Arctic region. “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense,” Trump told the Atlantic on Sunday, underlining that the vast icy island is “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”

‘If not easy way, we’ll do it hard way’

He reiterated his suggestion regarding Denmark during a White House meeting. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not. I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he said.

The US President further said that taking control of the mineral-rich island is imperative for the US national security, citing growing military activity of Russia and China in Arctic. “We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” he said.

Denmark warns US against Greenland seizure plan

Denmark and European leaders have vehemently opposed Trump’s plan to take control of Greenland where the US already has a military base.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end “everything”. The Danish defence ministry also said that soldiers will be required to shoot first and ask questions later if the United States invades Greenland.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Denmark’s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland next week.