Trump does not rule out “returning” Greenland, even if it leads to a crisis in NATO, – NYT
9 January 13:11
The powers of US President Donald Trump are limited only by his “own morality,” not international law, he said in an interview with The New York Times, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“There is one limitation. My own morality. My own mind. That’s the only thing that can stop me. I don’t need international law. I don’t want to hurt people,” Trump said.
When asked by reporters whether his administration should comply with international law, Trump replied, “Yes.” He later added that he would decide on his own when such restrictions would apply to the United States. “It depends on how you define international law,” the Republican emphasized.
Trump allowed a choice between control over Greenland and preserving NATO
Donald Trump refused to answer directly when asked what was more important to him — US control over Greenland or preserving NATO — but acknowledged that “there could be a choice,” the publication notes.
The White House chief made it clear that the alliance is essentially useless without the United States at its core, the publication says.
“I think we will always get along with Europe, but I want them to come to their senses. I am the one who forced them to spend more on NATO, to increase GDP,” Trump said.
Donald Trump rejected the Venezuela scenario for Taiwan
In a conversation with reporters, the Republican also rejected the claim that the US military operation in Caracas to capture Nicolas Maduro set a precedent that China could follow in its claims on Taiwan.
“It’s up to him (Chinese President Xi Jinping. – Ed.) what he does. But I told him that I would be very unhappy if he did something like that. And I don’t think he will. I hope he doesn’t,” Trump said.
The situation around Greenland
It should be recalled that some Republicans in the US Congress have openly criticized President Donald Trump’s plans for Greenland, especially his hints at the possible use of force to control the island.
Senator John Curtis stressed that the Trump administration should “stop threatening Greenland.”
Trump has repeatedly and publicly expressed his intention to bring the island under US control. Tensions surrounding Greenland intensified after a successful operation by American special forces in Venezuela in early January 2026, during which dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured.
After that, Trump again raised the issue of Greenland’s strategic importance for the security of the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing the island’s importance to the US.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt noted that the president and his advisers are considering “various options for acquiring Greenland,” adding that the involvement of the US Armed Forces remains one of the possible scenarios.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out a scenario of military intervention similar to the operation in Venezuela, stressing that the US does not plan to seize the island by force.
