President Trump on Sunday said buying Greenland is “strategically” interesting amid reported interest from the administration last week.
Speaking to reporters as he left his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, Trump acknowledged that purchasing the landmass owned by Denmark has been discussed.
{mosads}“Denmark essentially owns it. We’re very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world,” he said.
Trump added, “Strategically, it’s interesting, and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit. It’s not number one on the burner.”
Trump has reportedly mulled attempting to buy the largest island in the world that is home to more than 50,000 people from Denmark, though no official inquiries have been made yet.
Trump compared buying the territory from Denmark to a “large real estate deal.”
“A lot of things could be done. It’s hurting Denmark very badly because they’re losing almost $700 million a year carrying it. So they carry it at a great loss. And strategically for the United States, it would be nice. And we’re a big ally of Denmark, and we help Denmark, and we protect Denmark,” he said.
Ane Lone Bagger, Greenland’s foreign minister, responded to the reports saying the territory is “open for business, but we’re not for sale.”
The United States does currently have an airbase on the island.