Donald Trump’s son offers blunt seven-word verdict on Greenland takeover | World | News

Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, has delivered a stark seven-word assessment on the escalating tensions over Greenland, declaring: “We can’t be babies. We can’t be naive.”  The comment came amid growing discussions about the Arctic territory‘s strategic importance, as the Trump administration intensifies its push for greater US influence over the island.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English’s Tom Burges Watson, aired earlier this week, Eric Trump emphasised Greenland’s role in global security. Addressing the Middle Eastern broadcaster, he said: “Greenland is strategically important for a lot of reasons, a lot of global reasons, a lot of security reasons, not just to the United States, but pretty much the entire Western world, including exactly where you were from.” The remarks underscore the renewed US focus on Greenland since Donald Trump‘s return to the White House in January 2025, following his 2024 presidential election victory.

The self-governing Danish territory, home to about 56,000 people and the world’s largest island, has long been eyed for its vast untapped resources and geopolitical position. It hosts the US-operated Thule Air Base, a key installation for missile warning and space surveillance.

Eric Trump highlighted emerging threats, noting: “Greenland is becoming more and more of a source of conversation, especially as some of the northern sea routes open up and especially as more people look to militarise that part of the world.”

Climate change has accelerated the melting of Arctic ice, opening new shipping lanes like the Northern Sea Route, which could slash transit times between Europe and Asia. This has drawn interest from rivals such as Russia, which has bolstered its military presence in the Arctic with new bases and icebreakers, and China, which has invested in polar research and mining ventures.

The Trump family’s involvement adds a personal dimension to the policy drive. While dismissing near-term business plans—”if you’re asking me whether or not I think I’m going to be bringing a hotel to Greenland in the near future, I think the answer is probably not”—Eric Trump aligned with his father’s assertive stance.

He concluded: “We can’t pretend something that is happening isn’t happening. I think my father will ultimately do what it takes if required to make sure that, you know, kind of the western way of life of certainly America, but the western way of life and Europe, is safe and protected against forces that don’t have our best interest in mind.”

This echoes President Trump’s own statements in early 2026, where he vowed the US would pursue acquisition “whether they like it or not.” Options discussed in Washington include diplomatic negotiations, economic incentives, or more coercive measures, though military action has been downplayed amid alliance concerns.

The administration has framed Greenland as a national security priority, citing its rare earth minerals—essential for electronics and defence tech—and potential for enhanced missile defence systems, such as the proposed “Golden Dome” shield.

Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any notion of a sale or forced transfer. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede reiterated in a statement last week that the island’s future is “not for sale,” echoing sentiments from 2019 when Mr Trump first floated the idea during his initial presidency. Public polls in Greenland show over 80% opposition to US annexation, with concerns over sovereignty and environmental impacts.

The interview forms part of a media campaign amid high-level talks. US, Danish, and Greenlandic officials met in Copenhagen on January 14, 2026 to discuss cooperation, but sources indicate little progress on ownership issues.

Critics, including European allies, warn that aggressive US rhetoric risks straining NATO ties, given Denmark’s membership.

Analysts see the push as part of broader US efforts to counter Arctic encroachment. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine heightened fears of northern vulnerabilities, while China’s “Polar Silk Road” initiative seeks economic footholds. The US has ramped up investments, including a £30 million ($40 million) aid package to Greenland in 2025 for infrastructure.

As tensions simmer, Eric Trump’s blunt verdict captures the administration’s no-nonsense approach, signalling that the US views Greenland not as a whim, but a necessity in an increasingly contested world.