Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has expressed concerns over President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric on Greenland, arguing that threats of military force could undermine potential deals with Denmark for the strategically important Arctic territory.
Paul’s Views on Military Threats
In an interview on ABC’s This Week, host Martha Raddatz noted that Paul had said earlier this week on CBS Mornings that “it won’t happen under my watch” and that he “will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland,” before asking whether he believed the president would actually use force. Paul responded that he hoped not, but emphasized the counterproductive nature of such threats.
“Let’s say you wanted to buy Greenland—and I’m not disputing that might be something we want, to buy Greenland—you don’t get there by angering and denigrating the people who live there and saying we’re going to march the Marines in and take it if you don’t sell it,” he said. “It doesn’t make them very willing sellers so really if your goal is somehow, we are gonna rattle the sabre then they’re going to sell it to us I think it’s having the opposite effect.”
He also noted strong resistance in Washington: “You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in Greenland for but also be hard pressed find somebody in Washington who’s for a military invasion on either side of the aisle so there’ll enough pressure stop it.”
Broader Implications for War Powers
Paul framed the issue as part of a larger debate on U.S. military interventions. “That gets back to the War Powers Act that’s why this debate so important because not just about Venezuela it’s about Venezuela is about Green Land it’s about Columbia its about Cuba it is about whether or not people get a say in whether we go to war,” he said.
Trump Administration’s Stance
During a press gaggle on Air Force One, Trump emphasized: “If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will. And I’m not letting that happen.” He reiterated: “Yeah, sure. I’d love to make a deal with them. It’s easier. But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
Trump also stated the U.S. is “talking about acquiring, not leasing” Greenland, describing its defense as “two dog sleds” and adding: “You need ownership, you really need title.”
