Trump’s ‘desire’ to own Greenland persists, says Danish PM
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb 14.
PHOTO: EPA
- Danish PM Mette Frederiksen believes US President Trump still wants to own Greenland, despite recent threats being dialled back.
- Trump's desire for mineral-rich Greenland caused US-Europe tension, as he sees it vital for US/NATO security against Russia and China.
- A US-Denmark-Greenland working group formed to discuss Arctic security concerns. Denmark states "red lines" for Greenland's autonomy will not be crossed.
AI generated
MUNICH, Germany - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Feb 14 she believed US President Donald Trump still desires to own Greenland despite dialling back his recent threats to seize it by force.
Asked at a security conference in Munich if Mr Trump still wanted to own the Arctic island, Ms Frederiksen said: “Unfortunately, I think the desire is the same.”
Mr Trump’s designs on Greenland
In January, he backed down from his threats to seize the island, an autonomous territory of ally Denmark, after striking what he called a “framework” deal
But relations have remained strained.
“Everybody asks us, do we think it’s over? I mean, no, we don’t think it’s over,” Ms Frederiksen said, participating in a panel discussion on Arctic security.
Mr Trump insists mineral-rich Greenland is vital for US and NATO security against Russia and China as a melting Arctic opens up and the superpowers jostle for strategic advantage.
Ms Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Mr Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the pressure on the island’s people was “unacceptable”.
But Mr Nielsen said “some steps” had been taken “in the right direction”.
A US-Denmark-Greenland working group has been established to discuss Washington’s security concerns in the Arctic, but details have not been made public.
“We now have a working group, it’s good. We will try to see if we can find a solution... But of course, there are red lines that will not be crossed. And we will stick to our strategy,” Ms Frederiksen said.
The remarks came after Ms Frederiksen and Mr Nielsen had a 15-minute meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Feb 13 on the sidelines of the security conference, which Ms Frederiksen afterwards described as “constructive”. AFP
