Greenland’s newly elected prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has issued a firm rebuttal to US President Donald Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory. Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has repeatedly indicated a desire to “acquire” Greenland, suggesting the acquisition would serve US national and international security interests. Initially, the US president proposed purchasing the territory from its sovereign state, Denmark. However, there have been subsequent, more ambiguous hints from Mr Trump about the potential use of force—a notion that would contravene NATO’s Article 5, which holds that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Mr Trump’s surprising announcement sparked political repercussions, contributing to Mr Nielsen’s unexpected electoral victory in March. His campaign emphasised a strong position against external attempts to undermine Greenland’s autonomy, rallying the Arctic nation to “stand together” amid the emerging geopolitical pressure.
In a recent visit to Copenhagen, Mr Nielsen met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, where both leaders publicly demonstrated a united front against the US overtures. Speaking alongside Ms Frederiksen, Mr Nielsen delivered a succinct and unequivocal repudiation of Mr Trump’s stance, saying: “We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone.” The encounter was interpreted as a deliberate message of solidarity between Denmark and Greenland, underscoring their shared commitment to preserving Greenland’s sovereignty.
Mr Nielsen is scheduled to return to Greenland on Monday accompanied by Denmark’s King Frederik as part of the monarch’s four-day royal visit to the island. This event is expected to further symbolise the close ties between Denmark and Greenland in the face of external geopolitical interest.
The Express is reporting that both Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen have consistently rejected Donald Trump’s efforts concerning Greenland, reaffirming the territory’s status and autonomy under Danish sovereignty.
Source: Noah Wire Services