Significant that Trump recognised Greenland self-determination, Denmark says

COPENHAGEN - Denmark’s foreign minister said on March 5 that it was significant that US President Donald Trump had

recognised Greenland’s right to self-determination

while reiterating an interest in acquiring the island in his address to Congress.

Mr Trump on March 4 painted a picture of prosperity and safety for the people of Greenland, an autonomous territory of the kingdom of Denmark, which he has said he wants to

make a part of the United States

.

Opinion polls suggest that most Greenlanders oppose joining the US, although a majority favour eventual independence from Denmark, while the Danish government has said the Arctic island must decide its own future and is not for sale.

“(Mr Trump) said (they) respect the right to Greenlandic self-determination, and that I think was the most important part of that speech,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a press conference in Helsinki on March 5.

Mr Lokke Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland had a common interest with the United States in regard to security in the Arctic.

“We are ready to work with our American friends on achieving that, but of course it would be based on the fact that we have a Kingdom of Denmark,” he added. REUTERS