Blinken criticizes Trump remarks about Greenland

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday discounted the idea of the United States taking control of Greenland, after the idea was revisited by President-elect Donald Trump. Blinken told reporters that the military takeover of Greenland was not a good idea and not going to happen, so there was no point in discussing the idea further. The president-elect recently discussed taking control of the island in addition to the Panama Canal. At a Tuesday news conference, Trump did not rule out the idea of using the U.S. military to do so.

Meanwhile, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., began a trip to Greenland this week. Trump Jr. said on social media that Greenland’s people loved his father and loved the United States.

Why does Trump say he’s interested in Greenland and Panama? The president-elect on Tuesday described both territories as essential for U.S. security. China was currently controlling the Panama Canal, Trump said. The leaders of Denmark—of which Greenland is an autonomous territory—and Panama have both opposed Trump’s remarks.

Dig deeper: Read my report from yesterday about Trump’s comments about Panama and Greenland.