Playing Hardball on Greenland: Denmark's Right-Wing Party Takes Trump to Task
Danish Politician's Brash Remark to U.S. President: Identity Revealed This Week
In a remarkable move that's raising eyebrowes across the globe, Anders Vistisen, a member of Denmark's ruling party Danish People's Party (DF), has dared US President Donald Trump over his pursuit of Greenland. The exchange has caused ripples, shedding light on the far-right party's stance towards the US president and the political climate in the Baltic Sea.
Trump Takes a Dive: Vistisen Slams "Made-in-America" Colonial Attempt
Addressing the European Parliament, Vistisen pulled no punches when criticizing Trump's interest in Greenland. "It's not for sale. Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr. Trump, f off," he stated, facing rebuke from the parliamentary authorities for his colorful language.
Despite some criticism from within his party, it became apparent Vistisen's choice of words was not meant as an attack on Trump personally but rather a statement against any attempt to undermine Danish sovereignty over Greenland. "It's an unacceptable attack on Danish sovereignty to want to claim territories that have been Danish since the tenth century, three times as long as the United States has existed. The DF, [a party] often aligned with Trump's Republican Party in the US, stands firm against efforts to buy Greenland," Vistisen later explained on CNN.
The DF's Colonial Mindset and Trump's Border Protecting Principle: A Parallel Tale
When seen in light of the DF's stance on Greenland, it's clear that they believe in preserving the land as part of the Danish kingdom. Political differences aside, this perspective carries strong echoes of Trump's hardline stance on immigration and border protection in America.
Further emphasizing their colonial approach to Greenland, Vistisen declared in the EU parliament that Greenland had "been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years," before calling the land an "integrated part of our country." Despite accurate historical records placing Greenland under Danish rule since the late 14th century, the DF's propaganda paints a twisted picture of a territory belonging to Denmark for millennia.
Waving the Flag, but Walking on Eggshells
While the Danish government has dismissed conversations about purchasing Greenland as "absurd," the DF claims the government may not be doing enough to defend its territory. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's initial response to Trump's proposal in 2019 was clear: "An absurd discussion." However, recent tensions in the Baltic Sea would suggest that Denmark is treading a delicate line.
The Baltic Sea: Tensions Rising, Fueled by Alleged Russian Espionage
Adding to the perilous international climate, reports of a Russian ship, the Yantar, patrolling off the coast of Skagen in international waters have surfaced. The Danish military has not yet confirmed this information, but the potential for Russian espionage has heightened concerns.
In response to this escalating situation, the Danish Ministry of Defence has announced that Denmark will contribute jets and navy vessels to support NATO operations in the Baltic Sea. Recently, Mette Frederiksen admitted her support for NATO member states spending more than 2% of their GDP on defense, stating that Denmark has already "armed itself a lot" and will "arm itself more, and it's going to be very expensive."
Read More About Trump, DF, and Greenland:
- **Interview: "Everything the US could want from Greenland, they already have"
- **Explainer: Why is Greenland a part of the Danish Kingdom?
- Explainer: How easily could Greenland break away from Denmark?
- Opinion: Sometimes I wish my Danish in-laws would shut the f**k up
- Why you shouldn’t be surprised to hear Danish children say the F word
- Overall: Danish People’s Party (DF) Political Stance on Trump and Greenland's Autonomy
- Despite the denial from the Danish government, it's debatable if Denmark is walking a cautious path regarding Greenland's autonomy, given the firm stand taken by the Danish People's Party (DF) against any attempts to buy Greenland.
- In light of the escalating tension between Denmark and Russia over alleged Russian espionage in the Baltic Sea, the agreement among NATO member states, including Denmark, to contribute jets and navy vessels to NATO operations seems unlikely to quell political or military tensions in the region.
- General-news sources report that Anders Vistisen, a member of the DF, is famously outspoken on the issue of Greenland's sovereignty, as evidenced by his sharp critique of President Trump's interest in the territory, thus bring a unique blend of crime-and-justice and politics into the art-themed European Parliament.
- Analysts have highlighted parallels between the DF's colonial approach to Greenland and that of President Trump's border-protection principles in the US, further complicating diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- While it's uncertain if the US-Denmark relations will fully recover from the recent news of President Trump's "Made-in-America" colonial attempt on Greenland, a recent poll suggests that Danes would prefer their country to collaborate more with Canada on the matter rather than escalate political tensions in the region.
