It’s up to Greenland to decide its future, Danish PM tells Trump

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Donald Trump that it was up to Greenland to decide its own future.

The US president-elect sparked unrest in Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, last week when he signaled that the United States wanted to acquire the huge Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

In a 45-minute phone call Wednesday, Frederiksen told Trump that Denmark was ready to increase its responsibility for Arctic security.

She also reiterated statements by Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede, who recently said Greenland was not for sale.

Trump has not publicly responded to the call. However, he reposted a 2019 poll on his TruthSocial account that indicated 68% of Greenlanders supported independence from Denmark.

A referendum on independence would be considered and Denmark said it would respect any outcome.

When he was the previous president, Trump said he wanted to buy Greenland. When Frederiksen called the proposal “absurd,” he abruptly canceled a trip to Denmark.

The Danish government said that during his phone call with Trump, Frederiksen also emphasized that “Danish companies contribute to growth and jobs in the United States, and that the EU and the United States have an interest common to strengthen trade.

Last week, Trump threatened Denmark with high tariffs if the country did not abandon Greenland.

The suggestion has raised alarms among Danish industry leaders, as the United States is Denmark’s second-largest export market and any targeted tariffs would have a significant impact on the Danish economy.

On Thursday, Frederiksen will hold what Danish media called a “crisis meeting” with business leaders, including the CEOs of beer giant Carlsberg and drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which produces drugs for obesity and diabetes popular in the United States.

It is also due to host an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Policy Council with members of all parliaments.

Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz said she was satisfied with Frederiksen’s position that any decision regarding Greenland should be made by Greenlanders.

“I have great confidence in the task of the Prime Minister, and I also have great confidence in Egede. I think it is important that they have a close dialogue,” she said.

Earlier this week, Egede said his government was ready to begin a dialogue with the new Trump administration.

But opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov said he disapproved of Frederiksen’s approach.

Writing on

Trump’s comments and his son’s visit to Greenland last week have caused serious concern in Denmark. Faced with the prospect of angering what she repeatedly called “Denmark’s closest ally,” Frederiksen measured her remarks while emphasizing Greenland’s right to self-determination.

Hans Redder, TV2’s political editor, said the fact that Trump set aside 45 minutes for a phone call with Frederiksen indicates that “this Greenland thing is really something that Trump is concerned about – it’s not just a passing thought.” .