Denmark’s PM Mette Frederiksen has told US President-elect Donald Trump that it is up to Greenland to decide its own future.
Donald Trump sparked turmoil in Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, last week when he signalled that the US wanted to acquire the huge arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.
In a 45-minute phone call on January 15, Mette Frederiksen told Donald Trump that Denmark was prepared to increase its responsibility for security in the Arctic.
She also reiterated the statements of the Greenland PM, Mute Egede, who recently said that Greenland was not for sale.
Donald did not react to the call publicly. However, he reposted on his TruthSocial account a 2019 poll that indicated 68% of Greenlanders supported independence from Denmark.
A referendum on independence is thought to be on the cards and Denmark has said it would respect any result.
When he was last president, Donald Trump said he wanted to buy Greenland. When Mette Frederiksen called the proposal “absurd”, he abruptly canceled a trip to Denmark.
Image source: picryl.com
Mette Frederiksen said that in her phone call with Donald Trump, she also emphasized that “Danish companies contribute to growth and jobs in the US, and that the EU and the US have a common interest in strengthened trade.”
Last week, Donald Trump threatened Denmark with high tariffs if the country did not give up Greenland.
The suggestion set off alarm bells among Danish industry leaders, as the US is Denmark’s second largest export market and any targeted tariffs would have a significant impact on the Danish economy.
On January 16, PM Frederiksen will hold what Danish media dubbed a “crisis meeting” with business leaders, including the CEOs of beer giant Carlsberg and drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which produces obesity and diabetes drugs popular in the US.
She is also due to host an extraordinary Foreign Policy Council meeting with members from across parliament.
Greenlandic member of parliament Aaja Chemnitz said she was satisfied with PM Frederiksen’s line that any decision about Greenland should be taken by Greenlanders.
Earlier this week, Mute Egede said his government was ready to start a dialogue with the incoming Trump administration.
Donald Trump’s comments and his son’s visit to Greenland last week sparked huge concern in Denmark. Faced with the prospect of angering what she repeatedly called “Denmark’s closest ally”, Frederiksen measured her words while emphasising Greenland’s right to self-determination.
