ReutersPresident Donald Trump said he was thinking that the United States would take control of Greenland after showing a renewed interest in the acquisition of the Danish autonomous territory in recent weeks.
“I think we will get there,” he told journalists on Air Force One on Saturday, adding that the 57,000 inhabitants of the island “want to be with us”.
His comments follows information that Danish Prime Minister puts Frederiksen, had insisted that Greenland was not for sale during a fiery phone call with the president last week.
Trump spoke of the prospect of buying the vast arctic territory during his first mandate in 2019 and said that American control in Greenland was “absolute necessity” for international security.
“I think people want to be with us,” said Trump when we questioned him on the island in the press room aboard the presidential plane.
“I don’t really know what Denmark’s rights are, but it would be a very hostile act if they did not allow this to happen because it is for the protection of the free world,” he added.
“I think we will have Greenland because it has to do with the freedom of the world,” said Trump.
“It has nothing to do with the United States, except that we are those who can offer freedom. They cannot.”
Despite Trump’s apparent confidence, the Prime Ministers of Greenland and Denmark, both previously said that the island was not for sale.
The Groenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said that the use of territory lands was “the Greenland affair”, although he expressed his desire to do so. work more closely with the United States in the fields of defense and mines.
Meanwhile, the first Danish Frederiksen said earlier this month that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that only the local population can determine its future.
Frederiksen reaffirmed his position during a 45 -minute heated telephone exchange with Trump last week, According to an article in the Financial Times.
The newspaper cited an anonymous European official saying that the conversation was “horrible”, and another claiming that Trump’s interest in the acquisition of Greenland was “serious and potentially very dangerous”.
The Danish Prime Minister would have insisted that the island was not for sale, but underlined the “great interest” of the United States.
ReutersGreenland is on the shortest road between North America and Europe, which makes it strategically important for the United States. It also houses a large American space installation.
In recent years, the natural resources of Greenland have aroused increased interest, including the mining of rare earths, uranium and iron.
Although the island is enjoying wide autonomy, it is still part of the kingdom of Denmark.
But there is a general consensus in Greenland on the fact that it will eventually become independent, which could open the way to a new type of relationship with the United States.
The assertion of President Trump according to which residents of Greenland “want to be with us” could surprise certain inhabitants of the island.
Captain of a fishing boat in the colony of Kapisillit said to the BBC Trump was “welcome to visit” the island, but that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”.
And Kaaleeraq Ringsted, former local church, said that Trump’s language was “not acceptable”, adding that “Greenland is not for sale”.
There is several ways Trump could continue his desire to seize the territory. When asked him earlier in January if he could exclude the use of military or economic force, Trump replied that no.
His recent comments caused a shock wave within the Danish political establishment, triggering high -level meetings hastily organized in Copenhagen. Earlier this month.
