Greenland reacts to Trump's proposal for acquisition
Greenland is prepared to enhance its collaboration with Washington, according to Prime Minister Mute Egede, who emphasizes that the territory does not seek to become part of the United States. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has made it clear that while the Arctic island is open to collaboration with Washington, it does not wish to become a part of the United States. Egede's comments come in the wake of former President Donald Trump's renewed interest in “acquiring” Greenland from Denmark, driven by national security concerns.
In a FOX News interview on Thursday, Egede articulated his stance against Trump’s past proposal to purchase the territory, emphasizing that Greenlanders prefer to maintain their unique identity. “We want to… be clear. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be a part of the US,” he stated. He further mentioned that the islanders “do not want to be Danes” either, asserting that they “want to be Greenlanders.”
Egede acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Greenland and the US, stating, “We are close neighbors, we have been cooperating in the last 80 years, and I think in the future we have a lot to offer to cooperate with.” He reaffirmed that Greenland remains committed to NATO and will continue to be “a strong partner of the US.”
In 2019, Trump’s suggestion to buy the island encountered significant backlash from both Danish authorities and officials in Greenland. Recently, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, the former president hinted that he would not dismiss using economic measures or military action to pursue this aim.
Danish officials have also firmly rejected any notion of selling Greenland, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stating earlier this month, “Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.”
Greenland, which has approximately 57,000 residents, is home to the US Pituffik Space Base, a critical asset for NATO’s defense strategies owing to its strategic location.
In 1979, Greenland became an autonomous territory of Denmark, following a successful referendum where 70.1% of voters supported the Home Rule Act. While it has its own government, Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense. There is a growing desire for increased autonomy, with a 2019 poll indicating that nearly 68% of Greenlanders favored independence from Denmark within the next two decades.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a FOX News interview on Thursday, Egede articulated his stance against Trump’s past proposal to purchase the territory, emphasizing that Greenlanders prefer to maintain their unique identity. “We want to… be clear. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be a part of the US,” he stated. He further mentioned that the islanders “do not want to be Danes” either, asserting that they “want to be Greenlanders.”
Egede acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Greenland and the US, stating, “We are close neighbors, we have been cooperating in the last 80 years, and I think in the future we have a lot to offer to cooperate with.” He reaffirmed that Greenland remains committed to NATO and will continue to be “a strong partner of the US.”
In 2019, Trump’s suggestion to buy the island encountered significant backlash from both Danish authorities and officials in Greenland. Recently, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, the former president hinted that he would not dismiss using economic measures or military action to pursue this aim.
Danish officials have also firmly rejected any notion of selling Greenland, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stating earlier this month, “Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.”
Greenland, which has approximately 57,000 residents, is home to the US Pituffik Space Base, a critical asset for NATO’s defense strategies owing to its strategic location.
In 1979, Greenland became an autonomous territory of Denmark, following a successful referendum where 70.1% of voters supported the Home Rule Act. While it has its own government, Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense. There is a growing desire for increased autonomy, with a 2019 poll indicating that nearly 68% of Greenlanders favored independence from Denmark within the next two decades.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
