Trump seeks Greenland to cement his legacy, says former adviser

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said that President Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland to bolster his historical reputation.

Speaking to Denmark’s public broadcaster DR, Bolton noted that the idea of the US acquiring the island has existed for over a century, Caliber.Az reports via Danish media.

He recalled that US Secretary of State William Henry Seward proposed purchasing Greenland in 1868, while former President Harry Truman made a similar offer in 1947.

“He [Trump] is considering buying Greenland because he believes that adding the territory to the US will enhance his legacy. That was normal in 1868. That was how the world worked. Today, things are different,” Bolton said.

He argued that Trump’s ambitions are straining relations with allies and eroding trust between the US, Denmark and Greenland. The former adviser stressed that the US Congress would never approve the use of military force to annex the island.

“I cannot imagine the US invading the territory of a NATO ally, and I think if that were to happen, the congressional response from both parties would be overwhelmingly negative,” Bolton added.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump maintained his firm stance on acquiring Greenland, telling NBC News, "I never take military force off the table," though he acknowledged that a peaceful acquisition was possible. "This is world peace, this is international security," he said.

Vance also suggested that Greenlanders would benefit from closer ties with Washington, asserting, "We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they'd fare a lot better economically as well."

The controversy has sparked backlash in Denmark and Greenland, where officials and locals were not consulted about Vance’s visit. The debate underscores growing geopolitical tensions over the Arctic region’s strategic and economic significance.

By Aghakazim Guliyev