The new Prime Minister of Greenland has hit out at the US, accusing the Trump administration of being disrespectful as Washington continues to express an interest in taking control of the island. Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone”.
Speaking alongside the Danish PM near Copenhagen, Mr Nielsen said: “The talks from the United States have not been respectful. The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together.” Greenland is rich in natural resources and offers a number of strategic advantages, especially as shipping through the Arctic region becomes easier due to warming temperatures.
For years, Greenland’s political parties have been leading towards eventual independence from Copenhagen.
They recently agreed to form a broad news coalition government in response to Mr Trump’s ambitions on the territory.
The government of Greenland said Mr Nielsen’s three-day visit to Denmark aimed to strengthen future cooperation between the two nations.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “Denmark has the will to invest in the Greenlandic society, and we don’t just have that for historical reasons. We also have that because we are part of (the Danish) commonwealth with each other.
“We of course have a will to also continue investing in the Greenlandic society.”
She said they are happy to meet with the US President but added they have been “very, very clear” in the Danish commonwealth’s approach to “all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark”.
Mr Nielsen is set to meet King Frederik X on Monday, before returning to Greenland with Frederik for a royal visit to the island.
