A retired US army general, known for advising Donald Trump on military matters, has shared insights into the President’s true intentions regarding Greenland amid escalating tensions.
While a White House statement hinted at Trump exploring various avenues, including military action, to obtain Greenland, retired US general Jack Keane believes the threats of deploying the US military were simply a strategy to pressure the Danish government. Keane asserts that Trump has not seriously considered seizing Greenland by force.
Keane, speaking on The Times’s The General and the Journalist podcast, explained that the President’s approach involves intimidation tactics aimed at paving the way for a security agreement between the United States and Greenland through negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Denmark to discuss options, including a potential purchase of the 836,330-square-mile island located approximately 2,000 miles from the US coast.
Despite rumors of Trump’s determination to secure the resource-rich island by any means necessary, including deploying troops, senior Republican senator Mitch McConnell criticized the President’s aggressive negotiation tactics.
Jack Keane, a former US Army vice-chief of staff, disclosed that he declined offers to serve as Trump’s defense secretary but opted to provide informal advice on defense matters to the President regularly.
Keane cautioned that an invasion of Greenland by the US would not only be unprecedented for an American President but also illegal, given the constraints on executive power.
While some commentators have pointed out Trump’s previous unilateral actions, including military operations in Venezuela without congressional approval, others, like conservative figure Ben Shapiro, have downplayed the significance of international law in favor of a more aggressive stance.
Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller emphasized the importance of strength and power in international relations, suggesting that the US operates in a world governed by force.
In response to questions about potential US military action in Greenland, Miller expressed confidence that there would be minimal resistance to such a move, stating that no one would challenge the US militarily over Greenland’s fate.
While Trump has asserted that the EU relies on the US to control Greenland, NATO leaders have cautioned that any hostile actions towards Greenland could jeopardize the alliance. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that an American attack on a NATO member would have severe consequences.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that Greenland’s future lies in the hands of Denmark and Greenland, emphasizing their autonomy in deciding the territory’s fate.
Greenland, with around 57,000 residents, has had significant self-governance since 1979, although Denmark retains control over defense and foreign affairs. The US Space Force maintains a presence on the island through Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), with approximately 200 personnel stationed there permanently.