Greenland, Denmark affirm alliance amid Trump’s interest in US control
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Greenland's new Prime Minister, Mr Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left), being welcomed to Denmark by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on April 27.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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COPENHAGEN - Greenland and Denmark agreed on April 27 to strengthen their ties in response to US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategically located Arctic island, their leaders said after talks in Copenhagen.
Greenland’s new Prime Minister, Mr Jens-Frederik Nielsen, landed in the Danish capital on April 26 for a three-day visit, in a display of unity between the mineral-rich island – a semi-autonomous Danish territory
“We are in a foreign policy situation, which means we have to move closer together,” Mr Nielsen said, at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Mr Nielsen’s visit follows months of tension over Mr Trump’s repeated declarations
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have said that only Greenlanders can decide the territory’s future.
However, they have found themselves treading a delicate line between firmly dismissing US ambitions of annexing Greenland while also trying to maintain good ties with their traditional ally.
“We are ready for a strong partnership (with the US) and more development, but we want respect... We will never be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone,” Mr Nielsen said.
He said that an ongoing expansion of the US consulate in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, which had been agreed upon before Mr Trump took office, was causing anxiety among the people of Greenland.
Mr Nielsen did not confirm nor deny when asked if he had been in contact with the US administration since taking office earlier in April.
The warmer relations between Nuuk and Copenhagen come after Greenland’s previous prime minister in December blamed Denmark for a historical “genocide” in Greenland and in January, stepped up a push for independence from Denmark.
Ms Frederiksen said Denmark was ready to invest more in Greenland and to support Greenland financially as it takes over more responsibility of domestic affairs from Copenhagen as part of what she called a “modernisation” of their relationship.
Denmark has called for increased Arctic defence collaboration with the US, and both Mr Nielsen and Ms Frederiksen said on April 27 they were committed to strengthening defence in the region.
Denmark’s King Frederik will travel to Greenland on April 28 in a further show of solidarity. REUTERS
