Repeated threats by US to grab Greenland loom over Nielsen’s first go to to Denmark since taking workplace.
Greenland’s prime minister and his Danish counterpart have offered a united entrance, criticising United States President Donald Trump’s administration for an absence of respect in its designs to grab the Arctic island, a self-governed Danish territory.
“We are going to by no means, ever be a bit of property that may be purchased by anybody, and that’s the message I feel is most vital to grasp,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen instructed reporters on Sunday at a joint information convention in Copenhagen alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Trump’s repeated threats to take over Greenland loomed massive over Nielsen’s first go to to Denmark since taking workplace this month.
Nielsen’s go to follows one by Frederiksen to Greenland in early April when she instructed the US: “This isn’t solely about Greenland or Denmark. That is in regards to the world order that now we have constructed collectively throughout the Atlantic over generations. You cannot annex another country, not even with an argument about safety.”
Each Frederiksen and Nielsen, who leads Greenland’s new coalition authorities after his centre-right Democrats social gathering received legislative elections in March, mentioned they’d be keen to fulfill the US chief for talks.
Tensions between the US and Denmark have soared after Trump repeatedly mentioned he wished to take management of resource-rich Greenland for safety causes, refusing to rule out using drive to safe it.
“I feel we’d like that for worldwide peace, and if we don’t have that, it’s a giant risk to our world. So I feel Greenland is essential for worldwide peace,” Trump instructed reporters on Thursday throughout a information convention with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Retailer.
US has ‘not been respectful’
Nielsen additionally mentioned on Sunday that Greenland was engaged on strengthening its relations with Denmark because of the US’s “disrespectful” rhetoric. “We’re in a state of affairs now the place we have to stand collectively. The speak from the US has not been respectful,” Nielsen mentioned.
“I completely agree with that,” Frederiksen added.
Nielsen reiterated that Greenland was able to deepen ties with the US.
“We’re prepared for a powerful partnership, we’re prepared for extra growth, however we wish respect,” he mentioned. “You can’t have a accomplice the place there isn’t any mutual respect.”
US Vice President JD Vance paid a go to to Greenland in March, which officers each in Greenland and Denmark viewed as a provocation.
Throughout his journey to the Pituffik US army base, Vance castigated Denmark for not having “carried out an excellent job by the individuals of Greenland”.
“You’ve underinvested within the individuals of Greenland, and you’ve got underinvested within the safety structure of this unimaginable, lovely landmass,” he mentioned.
Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen responded on social media: “We’re open to criticisms, however let me be utterly trustworthy, we don’t respect the tone wherein it’s being delivered.”
Nielsen himself has mentioned: “The USA won’t get Greenland.”
“We don’t belong to anybody else. We resolve our personal future,” he added in a Fb publish.
Throughout his two-day go to to Copenhagen, Nielsen may even meet Denmark’s King Frederik and representatives of the Danish parliament.
In a separate assertion, Denmark’s Royal Home mentioned the king would accompany Nielsen again to Greenland for a go to.
Polls present a overwhelming majority of Greenland’s 57,000 individuals wish to develop into impartial from Denmark however don’t want to develop into a part of the US.
