Greenland's outgoing prime minister said on Thursday that he plans to call leaders from all sides of the territory to jointly reject U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to control the Arctic Island.
In an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday, Trump said that U.S. control of Greenland could be important for national security reasons and even suggested that NATO should be involved.
When reporters asked about the US taking over Greenland, Trump said: “I think this will happen.”
Outgoing Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede responded to Trump’s recent comment in a Facebook post: “Enough.”
“Now, the US president has once again evoked the idea of annexing us. I absolutely cannot accept it,” Eggard wrote.
He said he had gathered leaders from all sides together: “Because this time we need to tighten our rejection of Trump.”
He added: “Don’t continue to disrespect us.”
Trump said at a meeting on Thursday that he was sitting with the person who might be very useful to help the U.S. acquire Greenland, mentioning Ritter's people and telling him that the U.S. needs the island for “national security.”
“I think that's why NATO may have to be involved in some way, because we do need Greenland to do national security. It's very important,” Trump said.
Rut did not comment directly on Trump’s remarks about Greenland, but he did say he didn’t want to “drag NATO to the issue.
“We know that things are changing there, and we have to be there,” Rutte added.
After the conversation, Danish politician Rasmus Jarlov went to social media and said Denmark “does not appreciate” the head of NATO's “Greenland who joked with Trump.”
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“This means a war between the two NATO countries. Greenland just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and did not want to be an American,” Jarov added.
Trump also said on Thursday that Greenland's election was “very good” for the United States, “as far as we are concerned, the person who does the best is a very good person.”
Jens-Frederik Nielsen's Democratic party, which leans towards the path of independence, won Tuesday in Greenland's parliamentary elections.
On Wednesday, Nielsen, 33, opposed Trump's comments about “one way or another” getting Greenland.
“We don't want to be American. No, we don't want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our independence in the future,” Nelson told Sky News. “We want to build our own country.”
Trump has been talking about getting Greenland since taking office for the second time in January.
Speaking to Congress earlier this month, Trump said his administration “works with everyone involved to get it,” referring to his long-standing desire to get Greenland from Denmark, a long-time ally of the United States.
“We strongly support you in determining your future rights and we welcome you into the United States of America if you choose,” Trump said in his 90-minute speech. “We will make you safe. We will keep you rich. Together, we will bring Greenland to a high ground you never thought you would never have thought you would have never thought you would have.
“It's a very small population, but a very large piece of land. It's very important for military security.”
Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Egende responded to Trump’s comments in his speech to Congress, saying: “Kalallit Nunaat is ours,” using Greenland as “land of the people” or “land of the Greenlands.”
On January 20, Trump said: “Greenland is a great place and we need it to do international security. I'm sure Denmark will come out – to maintain it, it will cost a lot of money to keep it.”
Egede also spoke about these comments in January.
“We are Greenlanders,” he said. “We don't want to be Americans. We don't want to be Denmark either. Greenland's future will be determined by Greenland. Our country and our people will decide what's going on in Greenland.”
Trump doubled and said he would not rule out the use of force or economic pressure to make Greenland (the semi-autonomous sphere of Denmark) a U.S. ally and a founding member of NATO. Trump says it's a U.S. national security issue
Greenland is home to a large U.S. military base. Trump expressed doubts about the legitimacy of Denmark's claims against Greenland.
In February, Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican U.S., introduced a new bill that would give Trump the power to negotiate with Denmark if it passes through the House and Senate to acquire Greenland and rename it.
“The United States is back and will soon be bigger with the addition of red, white and blue,” Carter said in a statement. “President Trump has correctly determined that Greenland is a national security priority now and we will proudly welcome its people to the liberal country of all time when our host Inks this huge deal.”
Six months after the bill was potentially passed, Carter's proposal was given to the Interior Secretary's office to ensure federal documents were updated to reflect the new name of “Red, White and Brude”.
Trump initially expressed his interest in Greenland in the first semester of 2019. He said Greenland “seriously hurt Denmark” and costs $700 million a year. His solution was to have the United States acquire Greenland, calling it a “massive real estate deal.”
– Documents with the Associated Press
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