Greenland important for national security: Waltz
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said Wednesday that Greenland is important for national security, leaning into Trump's expressed interest in acquiring the island territory.
In an interview Wednesday with Fox News's Jesse Watters, Waltz was asked to "tell us what the deal is" with Greenland, as reviews on the potential expansion have been mixed.
“Well, look, this is not just about Greenland. This is about the Arctic. You have Russia that is trying to become king of the Arctic with 60-plus icebreakers, some of ‘em nuclear-powered. [Do you know] how many we have, Jesse? We have two, and one just caught on fire," the Florida Republican said.
“This is about critical minerals,” he added. “This is about natural resources. This is about, as the polar ice caps pull back, the Chinese are now cranking out icebreakers and pushing up there as well. So, it's oil and gas. It's our national security. It's critical minerals.”
Trump has suggested that taking over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory controlled by Denmark, would be a "great idea." The president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also made a trip to the island earlier this week, with a source telling The Hill that the visit was “for a quick daylong trip to shoot some fun video content for podcasting.”
“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE!" Trump wrote Tuesday in a Truth Social post, which featured video of his son's plane touching down while surrounded by frosty terrain. "This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
In the recent interview, Waltz also noted “Denmark can be a great ally, but you can't treat Greenland, which they have operational control over, as some kind of backwater.”
“It's in the Western Hemisphere. Multiple presidents have tried to bring it into our sphere,” he added.
Many have been skeptical about whether such a deal is possible. Denmark officials have pushed back, saying the region is not up for sale.
Trump has also not ruled out ceding territory by military force — including reacquiring the Panama Canal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leaders have warned him about the threat, arguing it is a long-standing principle that “borders must not be moved by force.”
The Hill has reached out to Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.