In a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump’s proposal, Greenland’s Prime Minister has unequivocally rejected any notion of selling the semiautonomous Danish territory to the United States.
On Friday, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, alongside other party leaders, issued a powerful statement that left no room for negotiation regarding the ownership of their homeland. The statement was a direct response to Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring Greenland.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” the statement declared, asserting the right of the Greenlandic people to determine their own future.
The leaders further emphasized, “Greenland’s future must be decided by the Greenlandic people,” making it clear that any external attempts to influence their sovereignty would be firmly resisted.
They also called for an end to what they perceive as the United States’ disregard for their nation, stating, “As Greenlandic party leaders, we would like to emphasize once again our wish that the United States’ contempt for our country ends.”
President Trump had previously mentioned on January 9 his interest in acquiring Greenland, expressing a desire to seal the deal “the easy way,” according to a report by the Associated Press.
‘Right now we are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we’re not gonna have Russia or China as a neighbor,’ he said.
The president added that he was ‘a fan’ of NATO ally Denmark, but if the US can’t easily acquire Greenland, ‘we’re going to do it the hard way.’
Greenland’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen addressed the US in a statement with party leaders
Territory officials stated they were not interested in being purchased by the US
Trump said the US plans to acquire the semiautonomous from Denmark ‘the easy way’
Vice President JD Vance told reporters that European leaders should ‘take the president seriously.’
‘What we’re asking our European friends to do is take the security of that landmass more seriously, because if they’re not, the United States is going to have to do something about it,’ Vance said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned the US on Monday that a takeover would mean the end of NATO.
‘If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,’ she told Danish broadcaster TV2, per ABC News.
‘That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.’
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left) and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (right) have each warned the US against attempting to acquire Greenland
European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Frederiksen in her sentiments in a statement issued Tuesday.
‘Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security…’ it read.
‘Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,’ the statement continued.
‘These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.’
The esteemed government officials concluded in defense of Greenland.
‘Greenland belongs to its people,’ they said. ‘It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.’
Government officials including Emmanuel Macron (center) joined Denmark’s prime minister (left) in a bold statement to the United States
Greenland lies mostly above the artic circle and is home to 56,000 people
Officials from Denmark, Greenland and the US met on Thursday to discuss the renewed push by Trump to acquire Greenland, perhaps by military force.
Trump called for US jurisdiction over Greenland repeatedly in the early months of his second term, but his demands had since died down.
Denmark requested talks with the White House over its renewed target on Greenland following Maduro’s capture.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet next week with Danish officials.
The island of Greenland, 80 percent of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.
