<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US needs to own </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/top-diplomats-from-greenland-and-denmark-met-with-white-house-officials-as-trump-pushes-for-ownership/2df7db23-eacb-4180-8d76-cc227c98e921" rel="" target="" title="Greenland"><span>Greenland</span></a><span> to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="President Donald Trump"><span>President Donald Trump</span></a><span> said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour," Trump told reporters at the White House while meeting with oil company executives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said the US must acquire </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/greenland" rel="" target="" title="Greenland"><span>Greenland</span></a><span>, even though it already has a military presence on the island under a 1951 agreement, because such deals are not enough to guarantee Greenland's defence. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-supreme-leader-signals-upcoming-crackdown-on-protesters-ruining-their-own-streets-for-trump/1a396997-46cd-4486-99e8-243255f79018" rel="" target="" title="Iran supreme leader signals upcoming crackdown"><strong><span>Iran supreme leader signals upcoming crackdown</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The island of 57,000 people is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You defend ownership. You don't defend leases. And we'll have to defend Greenland. If we don't do it, China or Russia will," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump and White House officials have been discussing various plans to bring Greenland under US control, including potential use of the US military and lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the US.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-greenland-takeover-threat-china-russia/9815c98e-11de-4c64-a9d3-681e2df422b6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leaders in Copenhagen and throughout Europe have reacted with disdain in recent days to comments by Trump and other White House officials asserting their right to Greenland. The US and Denmark are NATO allies bound by a mutual defence agreement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Tuesday, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark issued a joint statement, saying only Greenland and Denmark can decide matters regarding their relations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/venezuela-donald-trump-cancelled-second-wave-of-attacks-on-venezuela-due-to-country-cooperation/ca48aeb1-c951-462d-965e-ee989db2a518" target="" title="Trump says he has cancelled a 'second wave' of attacks on Venezuela"><strong><span>Trump says he has cancelled a 'second wave' of attacks on Venezuela</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/top-diplomats-from-greenland-and-denmark-met-with-white-house-officials-as-trump-pushes-for-ownership/2df7db23-eacb-4180-8d76-cc227c98e921" target="" title="Greenland and Denmark diplomats meet with White House officials"><strong><span>Greenland and Denmark diplomats meet with White House officials</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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