Washington needs Greenland: Bessent

Trump official slams Europe's 'weakness'

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US President Donald Trump walks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford; Jim Farley, CEO of Ford; and Corey Williams, Ford River Rouge Plant Manager, during a visit to a Ford production centre in Dearborn, Michigan, on Jan 13.

(REUTERS)

European “weakness” necessitates US control of Greenland for global stability, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday even as some lawmakers sounded alarms about the Trump administration’s effort to acquire the Arctic territory held by Denmark.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Mr Bessent said taking ownership of Greenland is crucial in a geopolitical chess match with Russia and China.

He made the remarks a day after US President Donald Trump vowed to implement tariffs on EU members opposed to a US acquisition, including Denmark, which has long been one of Washington's staunchest allies.

“We are the strongest country in the world,” Mr Bessent said. “Europeans project weakness. US projects strength.”