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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, perhaps the world’s most-famous property developer, says he wants the US to buy the world’s biggest island, according to a report.
Trump has expressed interest in the mostly ice-covered landmass located northeast of Canada, asking advisors if it is possible for the US to acquire Greenland, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The president has been curious about the territory’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance, the paper reported.
Greenland is a self-governing region of Denmark, which colonised the 2 million sq km island in the 18th century, and is home to nearly 57,000 people, most of whom belong to the indigenous Inuit community.
There was no official comment from the White House, and the Danish embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Some Trump advisors say acquiring Greenland could be good for the US, while others called it only a “fleeting fascination” from the president, The Wall Street Journal said.
Others outside the White House say Trump’s interest could be a desire to secure a legacy achievement, the paper reported, and advisors wondered about the potential for research or greater military clout for the US.
The US’s northern-most military base, Thule Air Base, has been located on Greenland for decades.
But Greenland doesn’t quite live up to its lush name — 85% of the island is covered by a 3 km thick ice sheet that contains 10% of the world’s fresh water.
The world’s largest island has suffered from climate change, scientists say, becoming a giant melting icicle that threatens to submerge the world’s coastal areas one day.
July saw unprecedented melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with 12 billion tonnes of ice flowing into the sea.
Trump, who in 2017 withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement to cap global warming levels, is reportedly set to visit Copenhagen in September.
This isn’t the first time the real-estate-developer-turned-president has expressed interest in foreign properties — he has said North Korea’s “great beaches” would make ideal locations for condos.
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Would it be possible for signs to be erected on Irish roads telling idiot drivers to stop at the red lights
stop? why?
A road sign to tell people to look up from there phones. I can see no problem here at all.
I hope we don’t follow ..
If you can’t pay attention, let natural selection take place..
Put the signs on the footpaths.
instead of on the ground saying LOOK LEFT or LOOK RIGHT isy should just say LOOK UP(from your phone)
She doesn’t look Korean to me
South Korea lets in foreigners.
Forget your signs.. Just do what Dublin has done. Flood the streets with jun*ies & pick pockets who only love to sneak up and whip your phone from your hand! Makes me look up more often!
Nobody gets run over in the DPRK.
The sign company must be giving out more brown envelopes. We have way too many signs and councils keep adding to that number. Procurement officers are never fired for corrupts payments yet evidence is all over the country. Cycle lane signs and Bus lane signs on the Merrion Road are over the top. There are 482 road signs between Merrion gates and Blackrock. Booterstown to Blackrock is littered with signs and road markings. Somebody is getting a kickback.
Yet drivers are forever crashing into the Merrion gates. Maybe it’s an underpass they need.
Sure all they need is a visual Street quiz, “What Seoul Street is this?”. The recent Dublin one made me realise how often we don’t look up. The Journal could offer their services!
have your say