Greenland’s prime minister mentioned Friday that the mineral-rich Arctic territory’s folks do not need to be Individuals, however that he understands U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s curiosity within the island given its strategic location and he is open to larger cooperation with Washington.
The feedback from the Greenlandic chief, Múte B. Egede, got here after Trump mentioned earlier this week that he would not rule out utilizing drive or financial strain with a view to make Greenland — a semiautonomous territory of Denmark — part of the USA. Trump mentioned that it was a matter of nationwide safety for the U.S. Melting sea ice has opened up new delivery routes by means of the Arctic, and Western powers have already voiced concern about Russia and China utilizing it to spice up their presence within the North Atlantic.
Egede acknowledged that Greenland is a part of the North American continent, and “a spot that the Individuals see as a part of their world.” He mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Trump, however that he is open to discussions about what “unites us.”
“Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation implies that you’ll work in the direction of options,” he mentioned.
Egede has been calling for independence for Greenland, casting Denmark as a colonial energy that hasn’t all the time handled the Indigenous Inuit inhabitants effectively.
“Greenland is for the Greenlandic folks. We don’t need to be Danish, we don’t need to be American. We need to be Greenlandic,” he mentioned at a information convention alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.
Trump’s need for Greenland has sparked nervousness in Denmark in addition to throughout Europe. The US is a robust ally of 27-nation European Union and the main member of the NATO alliance, and lots of Europeans had been shocked by the suggestion that an incoming U.S. chief may even think about using drive towards an ally.
However Frederiksen mentioned that she sees a optimistic facet within the dialogue.
“The controversy on Greenlandic independence and the newest bulletins from the U.S. present us the massive curiosity in Greenland,” she mentioned. “Occasions which set in movement lots of ideas and emotions with many in Greenland and Denmark.”
“The U.S. is our closest ally, and we are going to do all the things to proceed a robust cooperation,” she mentioned.
Frederiksen and Egede spoke to journalists after a biannual meeting of Denmark and two territories of its kingdom, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The assembly had been beforehand scheduled and wasn’t known as in response to Trump’s latest remarks. Trump’s eldest son additionally made a go to to Greenland on Tuesday, touchdown in a airplane emblazoned with the phrase TRUMP and handing out Make America Nice Once more caps to locals.
The Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported Friday that Trump’s crew inspired homeless and socially deprived folks in Greenland to seem in a video sporting the MAGA hats after being supplied a free meal in a pleasant restaurant. The report quoted an area resident, Tom Amtof, who acknowledged a few of these in a video broadcast by Trump’s crew.
“They’re being bribed, and it’s deeply distasteful,” he mentioned.
Greenland has a inhabitants of 57,000. However it’s an unlimited territory possessing pure sources that embrace oil, fuel, and uncommon earth parts, that are anticipated to grow to be extra accessible as ice melts due to local weather change. Greenland might have vital reserves of as much as 31 totally different minerals, together with lithium and graphite. These uncommon supplies are wanted to supply electrical automobile batteries. China at the moment produces about 65% of the world’s graphite.
Whereas Copenhagen is chargeable for its international affairs and protection, the U.S. additionally shares duty for Greenland’s protection and operates a base there, Pituffik Area Base, which to at the present time stays the American army’s northernmost set up.
Haley Ott
contributed to this report.
