Greenland's Prime Minister expresses firm stance: "We will not be bought."
Greenland: Don't Even Think About It!
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Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede made it clear on Monday that the autonomous Arctic territory is "not for sale," in response to recent comments by US President-elect Donald Trump.
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"Greenland is ours. We are not up for grabs and we will never be up for grabs," Egede told Ritzau, the Danish newswire.
Egede emphasized that while Greenland should remain open to partnerships and trade, it's crucial to maintain relationships with neighboring countries since international relations can't solely depend on Denmark.
Trump had previously stated renewed U.S. interest in controlling Greenland through his Truth Social post on Sunday. "For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump said.
READ MORE: Trump revives Greenland control talk after announcing Denmark ambassador
Trump's statement doesn't explicitly state a desire to acquire Greenland or purchase the territory. However, Greenlandic member Aaja Chemnitz, a Danish parliamentarian, considers Trump's comments to be an indication of that intent.
"The words 'ownership' and 'control' from a future president, who controls the entire Western world's foreign and security policy, is a pretty clear signal that the intention is to buy Greenland," Chemnitz told Ritzau.
She found Trump's claim "arrogant" and "disrespectful" to refer to Greenland as something that could be sold. "And it’s also pretty disrespectful of Danish politicians to say that it’s only a decision for Denmark," she added. "This would be a decision for Greenland and the people of Greenland. We have extended autonomy in Greenland. And as far as I know, no political party in Greenland wishes to become American citizens."
Meanwhile, Chemnitz supports strengthening ties with the U.S. and noted the opening of an American consulate in Greenland.
Greenland, with its own parliament and administration, is an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom. Two members of parliament are elected in Greenland, as well as on another autonomous territory, the Faroe Islands, to sit in Denmark's Folketing parliament.
Another Greenlandic member of parliament in Denmark, Aki-Matilda Høegh Dam, told newspaper Jyllands-Posten that "Greenland is not an asset to trade or a geostrategic trinket." She expressed interest in an "open dialogue about what President Trump means by his interest in Greenland."
A political science professor at the University of Copenhagen, Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, speculates that a genuine U.S. policy to take control of Greenland would represent a break from past U.S. policy dating back to the Second World War. Alternatively, Trump's comments may be intended to set a marker, indicating that he stands by his earlier comments about Greenland.
In August 2019, Trump suggested buying Greenland from Denmark before cancelling a state visit to the Nordic country in September 2019 after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the idea as "absurd."
Ritzau has requested comments from Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen but has yet to receive a response.
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- The recent news about Greenland's political status has sparked discussions in the realm of science and politics, as Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede reiterated the territory is not up for sale, contradicting statements from the US President-elect, Donald Trump.
- Amidst escalating tensions over Greenland, Greenlandic member Aaja Chemnitz expressed her concerns about Trump's desire for ownership and control, considering it an intended purchase of the territory, due to the power the President wields over Western world foreign and security policy.
- Despite this diplomatic tug-of-war, the importance of maintaining strong relationships with the United States in terms of art, science, and general news has been emphasized by Greenlandic member Aki-Matilda Høegh Dam, who advocates for an open dialogue about Trump's intentions regarding Greenland.
