Greenland's Prime Minister Upholds Commitment to Independence: ‘We want to be Greenlanders’
His comments have the potential to frustrate President-elect Donald Trump.
TroibNews 
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede emphasized on Thursday that the island seeks to maintain close relationships with both the U.S. and Denmark, but there are limits to this desire.
“The Greenlandic people don't want to be Danes. The Greenlandic people don't want to be Americans,” Egede stated during a Fox News interview.
His remarks may pose challenges for President-elect Donald Trump, who has shown interest in acquiring the strategically significant and resource-rich territory.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has echoed Egede's declaration that "Greenland is not for sale," reinforcing this message directly to Trump in a phone conversation on Wednesday.
In an interview with Bret Baier, Egede expressed a desire for a robust partnership with both the EU and U.S., suggesting a willingness to welcome increased investment in the island’s mining industry from European and American sources. This sentiment aligns with a Washington Post opinion piece written by the island’s natural resources minister Naaja H. Nathanielsen that was published on the same day.
Egede conveyed that if Greenland were given the opportunity to vote in a referendum, the population would likely choose independence, asserting that the decision should ultimately rest with the Greenlandic people.
“The future of Greenland will be decided by the Greenlandic people,” he asserted.
Should the Danish territory achieve independence, Egede mentioned that Greenland would seek to remain part of NATO and uphold a strong security and defense collaboration with both the U.S. and the EU.
“It’s important to see that if Greenland takes those steps we'll always be a part of the Western alliance and a strong partner for [the] U.S.,” he remarked, “because your security is our security."
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
“The Greenlandic people don't want to be Danes. The Greenlandic people don't want to be Americans,” Egede stated during a Fox News interview.
His remarks may pose challenges for President-elect Donald Trump, who has shown interest in acquiring the strategically significant and resource-rich territory.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has echoed Egede's declaration that "Greenland is not for sale," reinforcing this message directly to Trump in a phone conversation on Wednesday.
In an interview with Bret Baier, Egede expressed a desire for a robust partnership with both the EU and U.S., suggesting a willingness to welcome increased investment in the island’s mining industry from European and American sources. This sentiment aligns with a Washington Post opinion piece written by the island’s natural resources minister Naaja H. Nathanielsen that was published on the same day.
Egede conveyed that if Greenland were given the opportunity to vote in a referendum, the population would likely choose independence, asserting that the decision should ultimately rest with the Greenlandic people.
“The future of Greenland will be decided by the Greenlandic people,” he asserted.
Should the Danish territory achieve independence, Egede mentioned that Greenland would seek to remain part of NATO and uphold a strong security and defense collaboration with both the U.S. and the EU.
“It’s important to see that if Greenland takes those steps we'll always be a part of the Western alliance and a strong partner for [the] U.S.,” he remarked, “because your security is our security."
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
