Warum ein ermutigter Trump Grönland ins Visier nahm

As a real-estate developer, Trump has long been enticed by the idea of acquiring Greenland, an area more than three times the size of Texas, in what would be the largest land acquisition since the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867. But he brought to his second term a new willingness to upend diplomatic norms to pursue a goal he believes would cement his legacy.

Trump claims Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and deterring China and Russia in the region. He has argued that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would be stronger if Greenland is under U.S. control, and has linked the Arctic island to his planned Golden Dome missile-defense system. Greenland also has untapped reserves of rare-earth minerals.

But the president also sees acquiring Greenland as part of his quest to expand American territory. Trump admires James Polk, who as president during the mid-1800s oversaw the largest expansion of U.S. territory in history, and specifically [requested his portrait](https://www.wsj.com/politics/the-painting-that-explains-trumps-foreign-policy-c387323a?mod=article_inline) for the Oval Office.

Read more (free link): [https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/why-an-emboldened-trump-set-his-sights-on-greenland-538c67b7?st=CbABDQ&mod=wsjreddit](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/why-an-emboldened-trump-set-his-sights-on-greenland-538c67b7?st=CbABDQ&mod=wsjreddit)