Greenland’s new prime minister has told Donald Trump that the island is not a “piece of property that can be purchased,” after the US president made repeated demands for the US to annex the autonomous Danish territory.
Solidarity Between Denmark and Greenland
During a visit to Copenhagen on Sunday, Jens-Frederick Nielsen stated that Greenland and Denmark need to stand united against “disrespectful” US rhetoric. He was appearing alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in what has been considered another demonstration of solidarity between the two leaders.
As another symbolic act, Nielsen will return to Greenland on Monday accompanied by Denmark’s King Frederik, who will start his four-day royal tour of the island.
Nielsen’s Message to Donald Trump
“We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone, and that’s the message I think is most important to understand,” said Nielsen, who became Greenland’s prime minister this April.
He said that Greenland and Denmark must draw closer to each other in the wake of the new foreign policy environment.
Trump has outraged both Denmark and Greenland for repeatedly declaring that he wishes to annex the Arctic island under US control. Speaking to Congress in March, Trump stated that Greenland was necessary “for national security and international security.” He has also proposed purchasing the island and has before rejected excluding using military force, although US Vice-President JD Vance said last month: “We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary.”
Potential Talks with the Trump and US
Even though they have denounced Trump’s language, both Nielsen and Frederiksen on Sunday indicated that they would be happy to sit down with the US president for talks.
Nielsen also reaffirmed that Greenland was ready to enhance cooperation with the US, stating: “We are ready for a strong partnership and more development, but we want respect.”
Nielsen’s trip to Denmark comes after Frederiksen’s own visit to Greenland last month. “You can’t annex other countries,” was her warning to the US president at the time.
It came after Vance’s whirlwind tour of the territory, roundly praised in both Greenland and Denmark, during which he renewed Trump’s ambitions and asserted Copenhagen had “not done a good job” for the people of Greenland.
Greenland’s Desires and US Interests
Greenland, the planet’s largest island, has been under Denmark’s control for approximately 300 years. The island has its own domestic self-government, but its foreign and defence policy is determined in Copenhagen.
The US has an interest in security in the island for a long time. It has maintained a military base on the island since World War Two, and Trump also might have an interest in the rare earth minerals that are available to be mined.
Greenlanders overwhelmingly prefer to become independent of Denmark but do not desire to join the US, according to polls.
Established in March, Greenland’s new coalition government is headed by Nielsen’s centre-right Democrats party, which is in favour of a gradual transition to independence.
