What other options does Trump have?published at 19:38 GMT
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Traveling with President Trump
The White House has repeatedly, and explicitly, said that a range of options are available for the US as it seeks to acquire Greenland.
Tariffs, as we’ve now seen, are one of those – what else could be on the table?
The Trump administration has also floated the possibility of buying Greenland, or even taking it by force.
The diplomatic consequences of attacking the territory of a Nato ally, however, would be monumental – a fact which experts say makes it exceedingly unlikely.
The US could also “buy” Greenland. But such a transaction would be highly complicated.
Any funds would have to be appropriated by Congress, and acquiring Greenland by treaty would require support from two-thirds of the Senate – which experts say would be difficult to secure.
The European Union would also have to sign off on the deal, and Denmark has said, firmly, that Greenland is not for sale.
A third option could be to ratchet up efforts to win the favour of islanders by short-term financial incentives or the prospect of future economic benefits.
If Greenland were nudged towards independence, it could then enter into a partnership with the US.
- Read more about potential US options for Greenland and their possible consequences here
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