Nicosia, Cyprus. John Bolton said Donald Trump did not understand the Cyprus-based model that some analysts cited as a possible framework for US control in Greenland. Bolton described Trump’s interest in Greenland as driven by a desire for ownership rather than strategic arrangements.
Cyprus cited as possible model
When discussion emerged about potential models for US control over Greenland, some analysts pointed to Cyprus, where Britain maintains two sovereign base areas. Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said: “I don’t think Trump understands the Cypriot model at all.”
Bolton describes Trump’s motivations
In an interview with Polish publication Wirtualna Polska and journalist Tomasz Waleński, Bolton described behind-the-scenes discussions about Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland, characterising it as an ego-driven pursuit rather than strategic policy.
How the Cypriot model works
The so-called Cypriot model has been presented as a possible compromise for Greenland, in which a foreign state maintains permanent military bases on another country’s territory with almost complete control, without taking over sovereignty of the entire host state. The arrangement was established in 1960 when Cyprus gained independence, with the bases remaining British sovereign territory while Cyprus retained full sovereignty over the rest of the island.
Bolton says model held no interest for Trump
Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019, said the model did not appeal to Trump. “His psychological need consists of having a deed of ownership,” Bolton told Wirtualna Polska. “He never wanted merely to use the island—he wanted to see on the map that it belongs to the US.”
Existing US-Denmark treaty cited
Bolton said the 1951 US-Denmark defence treaty already provides the United States with substantial rights in Greenland, including maintaining and expanding military installations such as the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base. Bolton said officials had told Trump there were ways to operate within existing agreements. “We showed the president then that there are many ways of operating within already existing agreements,” he said. “It’s a far-sighted agreement. It’s not tied to one era; it remains fully useful as an initial framework for action.”
Sovereignty symbols and Danish objections
Bolton said such arrangements require shared sovereignty symbols, such as jointly flying American and Danish flags at bases, which he said “may irritate Trump.” He added that Denmark reacted negatively to the concept. “Denmark reacted negatively to this concept, claiming it doesn’t intend to relinquish any part of its sovereignty. Consequently, we still remain in considerable disagreement,” he said.
What do you think are the main obstacles to any change in how the United States operates in Greenland under existing agreements?