Greenland’s prime minister said Friday that people in the mineral-rich Arctic territory don’t want to be Americans, but he understands US President-elect Donald Trump’s interest in the island given its strategic location and it is open to greater cooperation with Washington.
The comments from Greenland’s leader, Múte B. Egede, come after Trump said earlier this week that he would not rule out using force or economic pressure to make Greenland a semi-autonomous territory of the Denmark – part of the United States. Trump said it was a matter of national security for the United States. opened new sea routes across the Arcticand the Western powers have already expressed concern about Russia and China use it to strengthen their presence in the North Atlantic.
Egede acknowledged that Greenland is part of the North American continentand “a place that Americans consider part of their world.” He said he hadn’t spoken to Trump, but was open to discussions about what “unites us.”
“Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means you will work towards solutions,” he said.
Egede called for Greenlandic independence, portraying Denmark as a colonial power that did not always treat the indigenous Inuit population well.
“Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We don’t want to be Danish, we don’t want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic,” he said at a press conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.
Trump’s desire for Greenland has sparked concern in Denmark as well as across Europe. The United States is a powerful ally of the 27-nation European Union and the main member of the NATO alliance, and many Europeans have been shocked by the suggestion that a new American leader could even consider using force against an ally.
But Frederiksen said she sees a positive side to the discussion.
“The debate on Greenland’s independence and the latest American announcements show us the great interest in Greenland,” she said. “Events that caused a lot of thoughts and feelings among many people in Greenland and Denmark.”
“The United States is our closest ally and we will do everything to continue strong cooperation,” she said.
Frederiksen and Egede spoke to reporters after a biannual meeting of Denmark and two territories of its kingdom, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The meeting was scheduled in advance and was not called in response to Trump’s recent remarks. Trump’s eldest son also visited Greenland on Tuesday.landing on a plane emblazoned with the word TRUMP and handing out Make America Great Again caps to residents.
Danish public broadcaster DR reported Friday that Trump’s team encouraged homeless and socially disadvantaged people in Greenland to appear in a video wearing MAGA hats after being offered a free meal at a voucher restaurant. The report cites a local resident, Tom Amtof, who recognized some of them in a video released by Trump’s team.
“They’re being bribed, and it’s deeply unpleasant,” he said.
Greenland has 57,000 inhabitants. But it is a vast territory with natural resources including oil, gas and rare earth elements, which are expected to become more accessible as ice is melting due to climate change. Greenland may have significant reserves of up to 31 different minerals, including lithium and graphite. These rare materials are necessary for the production of electric vehicle batteries. China currently produces about 65% of global graphite.
If Copenhagen is responsible for its foreign affairs and defense, the United States also shares responsibility for the defense of Greenland.
and operates a base there, Pituffik Space Base, which remains the northernmost American military installation to this day.
Haley Ott contributed to this report.
