Denmark is not going to quit Greenland to the US, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has stated throughout an official go to to the Arctic Island.
Responding to repeated threats from Donald Trump, Frederiksen provided nearer collaboration on safety however advised the US president: “You’ll be able to’t annex different international locations.”
Frederiksen stood alongside Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and his predecessor Mute Egede in a present of assist and unity within the face of US threats on Thursday.
Her three-day journey to the territory follows final week’s controversial go to by a US delegation headed up by Vice-President JD Vance, which was broadly criticised in each Greenland and Denmark.
During his whirlwind trip, Vance reiterated Trump’s ambitions to deliver Greenland underneath United States’ management for safety causes, criticised Denmark for not spending extra on safety within the area, and claimed it had “not executed a great job” for Greenlanders.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Brussels, the place he “reaffirmed the sturdy relationship” between the US and Denmark, the US State Division stated in a press release.
Rasmussen stated Rubio had acknowledged Greenland’s proper to self-determination however added that Denmark would object to “any claims on Greenland”, Reuters information company reported.
After arriving in Greenland on Wednesday, Frederiksen stated: “It’s clear that with the stress placed on Greenland by the People, when it comes to sovereignty, borders and the long run, we have to keep united.”
Frederiksen stated on Thursday that Denmark was fortifying its army presence within the Arctic and provided nearer collaboration with the US in defending the area.
However she added: “Whenever you demand to take over part of… Denmark’s territory, once we are met by stress and by threats from our closest ally, what are we to imagine in, concerning the nation that now we have admired for therefore a few years?”
Frederiksen rode across the capital Nuuk in a Danish navy patrol boat, alongside Egede and Nielsen.
In keeping with Danish public broadcaster DR, many individuals cheered at seeing the Danish prime minister, with one resident shouting from a window: “Hey Mette! Thanks for being right here.”
Egede, who served as prime minister for nearly 4 years, stated the island had cooperated with the US on safety for nearly 80 years – together with the development of the Pituffik House Base following a 1951 settlement between Denmark and the US.
The previous chief insisted Greenland was not on the market, however added the island needed commerce with the US, Greenlandic national newspaper Sermitsiaq reported.
Trump first floated the concept of shopping for Greenland throughout his first time period – and his want to personal the island has solely grown with time.
Mikaela Engell, an skilled on the Arctic territory who beforehand served as Denmark’s Excessive Commissioner to Greenland, advised AFP information company “it’s extremely, crucial and it’s extremely reassuring for Greenlanders to see a Danish head of presidency.”
Greenland – the world’s greatest island, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans – has been managed by Denmark, almost 3,000km (1,860 miles) away, for about 300 years.
Greenland governs its personal home affairs, however selections on international and defence coverage are made in Copenhagen.
5 of the six primary events favour independence from Copenhagen, however disagree over the tempo with which to achieve it.
A brand new Greenland coalition authorities was fashioned in March, led by the centre-right Democrats get together which favours a gradual strategy to independence.
Polls present that the overwhelming majority of Greenlanders additionally need to turn out to be impartial from Denmark, however don’t want to turn out to be a part of the US.
Since 2009, Greenland has had the proper to name an independence referendum, although in recent times some political events have begun pushing extra for one.
