US plans to boost defence budget using tariff revenue, Trump’s Greenland remarks spark political debate
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): Amid the latest developments related to Venezuela, US President Donald Trump has proposed increasing the country’s defence budget to USD 1.5 trillion. At the same time, remarks by the Trump administration on Greenland have intensified political debate in Washington over national security, NATO ties, and diplomacy.
Donald Trump said he wants to raise the defence budget to USD 1.5 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year, stating that the increase is necessary to ensure America’s security in the current global situation. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the decision was taken after discussions with senators, members of Congress, and senior officials.
Trump wrote that the defence budget should not be USD 1 trillion but USD 1.5 trillion. According to him, this additional spending would help build an extremely strong military force capable of defending the country against any adversary. He linked the proposed increase to revenue generated from tariffs imposed on other countries.
The US President said that if tariff revenues were not so high, the defence budget would have been limited to USD 1 trillion. He claimed that for years, many countries economically exploited the United States. Trump also targeted the previous administration led by former President Joe Biden, alleging that government revenue was much lower during that period, though he did not present any data to support the claim.
Trump further stated that despite a significant increase in military spending, the US would still be able to reduce its debt and even provide dividends to patriotic middle-income citizens. However, he did not clarify how the USD 1.5 trillion defence budget would be allocated or how approval would be secured from Congress. It is noteworthy that the US already has the world’s largest defence budget, and any further increase is expected to trigger intense debate in Congress over fiscal deficit and domestic priorities. Rising tensions with China and Russia, the Ukraine war, and instability in the Middle East have kept defence spending at the centre of political discussion in the US.
Meanwhile, comments by the Trump administration regarding Greenland have caused fresh political stir. The administration has described Greenland as a national security issue, while several lawmakers have raised concerns over diplomacy, NATO cooperation, and America’s strategy in the Arctic region. During a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the idea of the US acquiring Greenland is under active discussion between the President and the national security team. She linked the issue to Russian and Chinese activities in the Arctic, while stressing that diplomacy remains the President’s priority.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Donald Trump has been talking about Greenland since his first term, and that the idea is not new. He added that every US president keeps all options open to deal with national security threats, although the US prefers diplomatic solutions over military action.
Strong reactions have emerged in Congress over the issue. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Angus King warned against any suggestion of using force, while Democratic lawmakers Pete Aguilar and Ted Lieu criticised threats against a NATO ally and termed any military action illegal. House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified that there is no intention of going to war over Greenland. Several lawmakers also highlighted the long-standing partnership between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, and the US has maintained a military presence there for decades through the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance. It is worth noting that after the attack on Venezuela, Trump said the US needs Greenland for security reasons. Meanwhile, Katie Miller, wife of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, shared an image of Greenland wrapped in the US flag with the word “soon” written on it, drawing strong objections from Denmark.