White House aides have reportedly looked into the possibility of the US buying Greenland after President Donald Trump mooted the idea on multiple occasions.
The Wall Street Journal on Thursday cited unnamed advisors as saying the US leader asked his staff to “look into the idea” of purchasing the world’s largest island.
The report said that Trump, who is scheduled to make his first visit to Denmark early next month, has repeatedly asked advisers whether the US could acquire the territory, three-quarters of which is covered by a permanent ice sheet.
Read more: Greenland: Massive 31-kilometer crater discovered beneath ice
The sources said he had expressed interest in the autonomous Danish territory’s resources and geopolitical importance.
The Associated Press later cited an anonymous Trump ally who admitted that the president had discussed the idea but was not serious about it.
It wouldn’t be the first time an American leader tried to buy the island. In 1946, the US proposed to pay Denmark $100 million (€90 million) to buy Greenland after flirting with the idea of swapping land in Alaska for strategic parts of the Arctic island.
mm/rc (AP, dpa)
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-tells-staff-to-consider-buying-greenland-report/a-50045889?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf