Greenland situation is absurd

I am concerned that we are posturing on the world stage counter to our country’s best interests for national security, our economy, and our country’s overall reputation. Our need to own Greenland borders on the absurd as we have almost unfettered access to the Danish territory within the current treaty and our relationships [“Nobel snub sparked Trump stance,” News, Jan. 20].

The administration’s saber-rattling causes nothing but consternation and worry from our most solid allies. China and Russia likely will not attempt to invade Greenland as NATO currently stands. If they do make an attempt on Greenland, it is not because we do not own it but because we abandoned our allies.

A major concern should be the wedge we are driving between ourselves and our allies. The incoherent, erratic economic policies like whimsical tariffs or threats of tariffs have some allies looking elsewhere.

Canada now is negotiating with China, which is a greater threat to our security than not owning Greenland. Other countries likely will follow suit as their patience wears thin. Our economic and diplomatic influence will wane as countries realize we are not the partner we once were.

— Nicholas J. Gutierrez, Smithtown

The president’s expansionist policy ambitions are abhorrent. Threatening allies who stood by the United States — such as Denmark did in Iraq and Afghanistan — when other allies did not, is a stab in the back. Even threatening punitive economic tariffs is an affront to common sense and basic human decency.

To argue the pros and cons of this move as though it were an ordinary policy dispute is to ignore the fact that President Donald Trump is seeking to bully and intimidate friends and allies. This is not about trade balances like the earlier rounds of tariffs. This is about blind expansionism.

This is a slippery slope into diplomatic irrelevance. Hands off Greenland!

— Michael Hunt, Franklin Square

It has become abundantly clear that Donald Trump is systematically eroding our alliances with NATO because of his Greenland obsession. What happened to his view of “America First”? His rhetoric is doing damage to our country’s security.

Our congressional representatives need to take action to stop Trump from further ruining our country’s standing with our allies. They need to rein him in and start performing their jobs and govern. We need solutions to food prices, health care, jobs and the multitude of other issues facing the American people, not Greenland.

— Katherine Lopez, Massapequa

This nonsense has to stop. Yes, Greenland is important to the defense of the United States as it is to the security of Europe. U.S. citizens do not need to own Greenland.

Since 1951, the United States has had the legal authority to establish and run military bases there. But this administration is not content with partnership and cooperation. Everything is done with menace and bullying. Little by little, we are severing ties with the very countries who have stood up for democracy.

— Eileen Toomey, Huntington Station

I’ve been a Republican voter for some time but now more of a moderate who examines both sides. The actions of Donald Trump have been irresponsible and embarrassing. He picks and chooses who he’s going to bully.

Why doesn’t he want to purchase some of Russia’s arctic lands? Why has he been so soft with Russia regarding Ukraine? Unfortunately, he has a “mystical” power over Congress, which has succumbed to his bullying. Not until the composition of Congress changes will his bizarre behavior be stopped.

— Arthur Bernstein, Massapequa Park

This arbitrary and impulsive economic threat against our own allies is exactly why the president, any president, does not have the primary authority to impose tariffs under our country’s established separation of powers.

Congress, both sides, and even the Supreme Court must step up and quash this outrageous abuse of power. Enough of this ill-fated chaos.

— John Edwards, Islip

Recall this saying popularized by Winston Churchill? “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Donald Trump uses force to take over Venezuela and threatens force to take over Greenland. Does this remind you of anyone?

For years, Trump has been making friends with our enemies and enemies of our friends. When will his enablers wake up, realize the threat he poses to democracy, and put an end to it?

— Mark Herzog, Rockville Centre

One of our president’s favorite expressions is “It’s a hoax.” Here’s the real “hoax”: We need Greenland for our defense. We already have a treaty for the U.S. presence there that goes back to 1951. What is not being discussed are the rare minerals in abundance in Greenland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long awaited the self-destruction of NATO. It is horrifying to see our president contributing to it.

— John Darr, Port Jefferson

It seems our president is having another temper tantrum. He didn’t like the outcome of the 2020 election, so he encouraged the Jan. 6 fiasco. Now, he is mad that he did not get the Nobel Peace Prize, so he is taking it out on Greenland.

— Nina Mullane, Albertson