Trump touts actions against Iran in address to UN General Assembly

Trump turns now to his war in Iran, framing the war he launched earlier this year the same way he has to his domestic audience — as a necessary conflict to addressing a long-ignored threat.

“I do not believe in letting problems fester,” Trump said. “They only become harder to solve. So while others have talked, I have acted while others have spoken of peace, I have made peace. While others have ignored threats, I have confronted them. While others have talked of courage, America has shown it.”

The US, Trump said, had acted to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while other countries ignored the issue.

“For 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond,” Trump said, adding: “From the first day I entered the political arena, I’ve been unwavering. I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

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Key events

Trump hails ‘tremendous’ relationship with Denmark, Greenland as he signs Greenland deal

Jakub Krupa

Jakub Krupa

At the Greenland deal signing ceremony, Trump said it “has been an amazing journey with tremendous people” with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s PM Jens-Frederick Nielsen.

“We’re going to have a tremendous relationship, a secure relationship,” he said.

He thanked them for the deal, and says they will be working “very hard” on its implementation.

He said the deal has been “long in the making” – “many decades, probably centuries” – and it will be “tremendous for Europe and for the US and for everybody.”

Donald Trump, Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen attend a trilateral signing event regarding a deal on Greenland’s security. Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Speaking next, Denmark’s Frederiksen said “This deal is good for the United States. It’s good for Greenland, for Denmark, for the Nato alliance, and therefore also good for Europe.”

Frederiksen said any adversaries “will not be allowed to get any control or significant influence in Greenland,” adding that the agreement “underlines the importance of the Nato alliance.”

In tricky, carefully worded paragraphs, she said the agreement “recognises the US defining historical and ongoing contributions to the security and defence of Greenland,” but it also “respects the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as Greenland’s right to self-determination.”

I think everybody knows that we live in difficult times where we have to show our strength. If we let ourselves be divided as allies, then we do our votes a favour. We will do everything we can to prevent that from happening.”

Then, Greenland’s Nielsen said it is “a very important day for our security” that “builds on 85 years of security cooperation” since the second world war.

He stressed that “this is not only an agreement about us, but an agreement with us” and called it “a win-win”.

“It takes into account the people of Greenland, our rights, our livelihoods and the development of our country. This has been a key priority for us throughout this process,” he said, saying this is why Greenland “insisted on engaging in a constructive dialogue.”

“Greenland matters for North American security and for transatlantic security. And this agreement reflects that we understand our responsibility and act accordingly,” he said.

He continued:

“Nato matters. We believe that it is vital to keep Nato strong, also in the Arctic, where the alliance has a key role to play.

This agreement should put to rest any doubt today and in the future about where Greenland’s loyalty lies.

Our commitment to this alliance and to the security we build together is not in question. We are, have been, and will remain a steadfast friend of the United States and a part of the western alliance. Your security is our security, and our security is your security.”

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