The top US diplomat said President Donald Trump’s proposal to buy Greenland “is not a joke” because of the risk that China would station resources on the island that threaten American security and the importance of Arctic shipping lanes for energy exports.
“Those conversations are going to happen, but this is not a joke,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said about discussions between Trump and Danish authorities over potentially buying the island. Rubio also reiterated the Trump administration’s interest in the Panama Canal.
Rubio, previously defended Trump’s interest in Greenland, said Beijing may deploy Chinese companies to establish operations on the island that might one day be used by its military, adding that this was also a concern in Panama.
“It is completely realistic to believe that the Chinese will eventually, maybe even in the short term, try to do in Greenland what they have done at the Panama Canal and in other places,” “And that is install facilities that give them acc