Why Trump want Greenland and wetin e fit mean for Nato?

White House tok say Donald Trump and im close advisers dey discuss different options on how dem fit take over Greenland, as di US president still dey argue say e go help improve America security.

Leaders for di island don reject im demands, same as Denmark wey be Nato member and di kontri wey Greenland dey under as semi-autonomous territory.

Wia Greenland dey and why e dey important to Trump?

Greenland – di biggest island for di world wey no be continent – dey for Arctic region.

E be also di place wey pipo no plenty pass for anywhere. About 56,000 pipo dey live dia, and most of dem be indigenous Inuit pipo.

About 80% of di whole land dey covered with ice, so most pipo dey stay for di south-west coast, around di capital city, Nuuk.

Greenland economy mostly depend on fishing, and di place dey also get big money support (subsidy) from di Danish govment.

But for recent years, interest don increase for Greenland natural resources, including mining of rare earth minerals, uranium and iron. All dis kain tins fit bicom easier to reach as global warming dey cause di big ice sheet wey cover di island to melt.

Valuable mineral resources don also be one major focus for Trump for oda part of di world, including how e dey deal wit Ukraine.

However, di US president don tok say "We need Greenland for national security, not minerals."

E still tok say "Greenland full wit Russian and Chinese ships all over di place."

Plenty Republican lawmakers dey share dis view say US security dey at risk from dis two kontris wey dem dey always see as US enemies.

Wetin Trump don tok about US controlling Greenland?

Trump don repeat im earlier call say make US take over Greenland, after di US military raid for Venezuela, wia dem seize President Nicolas Maduro and im wife, carry dem go New York.

Greenland Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, respond say "enough don do", as e describe di idea of US control over di island as "fantasy".

But Trump and im allies no stop dia threats. Di president tok say e dey "very serious" about im plan, e add say Greenland dey important not only for American security but for European security too.

One of im top aides, Stephen Miller, tok say, "nobodi go fight di US over di future of Greenland".

US never rule out di use of armed forces to take control of di territory. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth tok for one congressional hearing for June say di Pentagon get "contingency plans".

Few days afta di Venezuela operation, White House tok say Trump and im team dey discuss options to acquire Greenland, including "using di US military".

For 2019, during im first time as president, Trump offer to buy Greenland but dem tell am say di island no dey for sale.

Afta e return to di White House for January 2025, e revive im interest again and e no rule out di use of force.

Controversial high-level visits don also hapun for Greenland. Vice-President JD Vance travel go dia for March and give one speech wey e accuse Denmark say dem no invest enough to protect di territory.

Anoda wahala about US intention start for late 2025 wen Trump appoint one special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, wey don openly tok say make di island bicom part of di United States.

Wetin Denmark and oda Nato allies tok?

Trump position don shock Denmark, wey normally get close relationship wit Washington, according to BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale.

Denmark Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, warn say any attempt to take over Greenland go mean di end of Nato.

UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, wey be anoda Nato leader, wen dem ask am whether e go tell Trump say "hands off Greenland". E reply: "Yes."

Starmer also sign one statement togeda wit di leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark, wey tok say: "Greenland belong to im pipo, and na only Denmark and Greenland get di right to decide anytin wey concern dia relationship."

Why Denmark dey control Greenland?

Though Greenland dey part of North America continent, Denmark don control am for about 300 years – even though Denmark dey almost 3,000km (1,860 miles) away.

But US security interest for Greenland don dey since long time, and two US govments bifor Trump don try collect di island but dem fail.

Dem rule di island as colony until middle of 20th Century. For most of dat time, Greenland remain cut off and poor.

Afta Nazi Germany take over mainland Denmark during World War Two, di United States enter Greenland and set up military bases and radio stations dia.

Afta di war finish, American soldiers still remain for Greenland. Pituffik Space Base, wey dem dey call Thule Air Base before, US don dey operate am from dat time till now.

For 1951, defence agreement between Denmark and the US give America big role for di defence of di territory, including right to build and maintain military bases.

For 1953, dem make di island part of di Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland pipo bicom Danish citizens.

For 1979, referendum on home rule give Greenland control over most policies inside di territory, while Denmark still dey control foreign affairs and defence.

Greenland get Danish military bases as well as American ones.

Wetin pipo dey tok for Greenland?

As response to Trump threats for early 2026, Greenland Prime Minister Nielsen tok say: "No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation.

We dey open to dialogue. We dey open to discussions. But e must hapun through di correct channels and wit respect for international law."

Wen BBC correspondent Fergal Keane visit di island for 2025, na one sentence im dey hear again and again: "Greenland belong to Greenlanders. So, Trump fit visit but na so e go end."

Di matter take centre stage during di territory general election for dat year.

Polling show say plenty Greenland pipo dey support independence from Denmark, but plenty of dem still strongly reject di idea of becoming part of di US.

Wen Trump first raise di idea of buying Greenland for 2019, many locals tok say dem no support di proposal.

"Dis na very dangerous idea," Dines Mikaelsen, wey be tour operator tok.

"E dey treat us like commodity wey person fit buy," Aleqa Hammond, Greenland first female prime minister tok.