Blinken: Trump's offer to take over Greenland is not a good idea

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed the interest of newly elected President Donald Trump in taking over Greenland, saying it is "obviously not a good" idea and that it will not happen, Reuters reported.

Trump reiterated his interest in taking control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, on Tuesday and refused to rule out the use of force to take control of the vast Arctic island. He said the United States needs Greenland for national security reasons.

"I think one of the fundamental propositions that we've brought to our work over the last four years is that we are stronger, we are more effective, we get better results when we work closely with our allies, not by saying or doing things that might alienate them," Blinken told reporters at a press conference in Paris with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

"The idea that was floated about Greenland is obviously not a good one, but perhaps more importantly, it obviously is not going to happen, so we probably shouldn't spend a lot of time talking about it."

The Danish Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that Greenland could become independent if its inhabitants wish, but it is unlikely to become a US state. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has signaled that he will pursue a foreign policy unburdened by diplomatic niceties, and also refused to rule out military or economic action as part of his stated desire for the US to take control of the Panama Canal.

In 2019, Trump postponed a scheduled visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected his idea of buying Greenland, which was a Danish colony until 1953 and is now a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish kingdom.

Greenland, which is part of NATO through Denmark's membership, has strategic importance for the US military and its ballistic missile early warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America passes over the Arctic island.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede stated that the island is not for sale and in his New Year's speech reinforced the call for the island's independence.