Greenland PM’s reachout to Trump: Don’t want to be Americans, but ready to talk

2025-01-12 04:25:00

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said he is “ready to talk” with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in taking control of the mineral-rich Arctic island.

A semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth elements. Its strategic location in the Arctic, where global powers like Russia and China are expanding their influence, has further heightened its importance.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, has called acquiring Greenland an “absolute necessity,” citing its strategic and economic potential. He has not ruled out military or economic measures, including tariffs against Denmark, to achieve this goal.

Amid this back-and-forth, Egede reaffirmed Greenland’s commitment to self-determination and independence.

“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlandic… of course, it’s the Greenlandic people who decide their future,” Egede said during a press conference in Copenhagen as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen looked on.

Egede acknowledged Greenland’s geographic and strategic proximity to North America, saying it’s “a place that the Americans see as part of their world.”

While he hasn’t spoken with Trump, the Greenlandic leader expressed openness to discussions about greater cooperation with Washington on “things that bring us together”.

“…We’re ready to talk. I think we are both ready to increase our dialogue and reach out,” he stated.

Pro-independence Egede signalling openness to dialogue with the US may be a bid to undermine Denmark, which he has cast as a colonial power with a history of mistreating the indigenous Inuit population.

“We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house… This is something everyone should respect,” Egede said.

At the same time, he made it clear that the push for independence doesn’t mean severing ties with Denmark entirely.

Greenland, the world’s largest island, was a Danish colony until 1953. In 2009, it gained the right to declare independence through a vote, though it remains self-governing under Danish oversight for foreign affairs and defence.

However, the US plays a significant role in Greenland’s defence, operating a military base there under a 1951 treaty.

Trump’s belligerence has sparked anxiety in Denmark and across Europe, where the idea of a US leader considering force against a NATO ally has raised alarm. Denmark, a key member of the European Union and NATO, is seen as a vital partner in transatlantic relations.

(With inputs from Reuters, AP)

Published By:

Devika Bhattacharya

Published On:

Jan 12, 2025

Trump on Greenland, Donald Trump news, US control of Greenland, Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland, Denmark, NATO, Mute Egede, Greenland independence

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