Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Egede, declared on Tuesday that the autonomous Danish territory is determined to shape its own destiny and has no desire to become American, following renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump about taking control of the island.
Trump, who assumed office on Monday, raised concerns earlier in January by refusing to rule out military intervention to secure control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.
While Greenland was not mentioned in his inauguration speech, Trump was questioned about it in the Oval Office.
“Greenland is a wonderful place; we need it for international security,” he remarked, adding that Denmark might be persuaded to let go of the territory due to its financial burden.
Greenlandic and Danish officials swiftly defended Greenland’s right to self-determination. “We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans or Danish. Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenland,” Egede asserted during a press conference.
Acknowledging the challenges facing the island, Egede stressed Greenland’s openness to dialogue with the US to safeguard Arctic security amidst growing rivalries with China and Russia.
Greenland holds a strategic position in the Arctic, home to a key US military base, and boasts untapped mineral and oil reserves, though exploration is currently banned.
“We have collaborated with the US on security for over 80 years,” Egede noted, adding that Greenland seeks to clarify its stance in discussions with Washington.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, expressed concerns over Trump’s remarks. “We can’t allow a world where large countries take what they want,” he said.
Greenland faces elections before 6 April, with independence as a central issue. Despite autonomy, Copenhagen oversees its judiciary, monetary policy, foreign affairs, and defence, while subsidies from Denmark account for a fifth of Greenland’s GDP.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen underscored the need for Denmark to navigate a shifting global landscape under Trump while maintaining its alliance with the US, which she called Denmark’s most critical since WWII.
Danish political leaders were summoned on Tuesday for briefings on the unfolding situation, with Pia Olsen Dyhr of the Green Left acknowledging that the next four years would present significant challenges.