Trump renews attack on Denmark over Greenland

Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-22 11:30:17|Editor: Liu
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A far-flung idea of purchasing Greenland has evolved into an international spat, as U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday tore into Denmark again for shunning him.

"I thought that the prime minister's statement was nasty," Trump told the press, referring to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

"It was an inappropriate statement. All she has to do is say 'no, we wouldn't be interested,'" Trump said. "Because she's not talking to me, she's talking to the United States of America. You don't talk to the United States that way, at least under me."

Trump later continued the rant on twitter, blasting Copenhagen for not spending enough on military as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"For the record, Denmark is only at 1.35% of GDP for NATO spending. They are a wealthy country and should be at 2%," Trump said in pair of tweets, "these countries have agreed to pay ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS more - but still way short of what they should pay for the incredible military protection provided."

U.S. news outlets recently cited official sources as saying that Trump had considered making a bid to purchase Greenland, an idea Trump later confirmed.

Trump said Greenland had strategic interest to the United States, defending his position by saying that previous U.S. presidents had also floated the idea.

In a stern response, Frederiksen called the idea "absurd," triggering a backlash from Trump.

Trump on Tuesday announced postponing a scheduled visit to Denmark in early September.

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