Trump says to acquire Greenland 'one way or the other'

WASHINGTON-- US President Donald Trump on Sunday once again claimed that the United States will acquire Denmark's Greenland "one way or the other."

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said that with regard to Greenland, he was not considering leasing or short-term arrangements, but "acquiring" the territory.

"We're talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term, we're talking about acquiring," said Trump, adding it's insufficient for the country to merely maintain military bases on the island.

"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 asserted.

Asked if the US demand for Greenland will damage NATO and European allies, Trump said, "If it affects NATO and it affects NATO, but you know, they need us much more than we need them."

"I'm the one that saved NATO," Trump claimed, again questioning whether NATO allies would support the United States when it is needed.

"I just wonder whether or not, if we needed NATO, would they be there for us? I'm not sure they would," the president said.

Trump also repeated his baseless allegations that Russian and Chinese warships and submarines were "all over the place" around Greenland, using the false claims to argue that the United States needs to own Greenland for national security reasons.

"If we don't do it, Russia or China will," Trump claimed, offering no evidence.

"I have seen the intelligence. There are no ships, no submarines," the Financial Times quoted one of two senior Nordic diplomats with access to NATO intelligence briefings as saying on Sunday.

The two diplomats told the newspaper that there was no evidence of Russian or Chinese ships or submarines operating around Greenland in recent years, directly contradicting Trump's allegations.

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that there was "very little" Russian or Chinese activity near Greenland, reported US media outlet Politico.