ANKARA — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland was “not for sale” after renewed comments by Donald Trump suggesting the Arctic territory should be controlled by Washington rather than Copenhagen.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Turkey, Frederiksen said she believed the US position had become increasingly explicit.
“I heard the US president yesterday and I think the US position is unfortunately very clear on this topic. Our position is as clear as it has been all through: Greenland is, of course, not for sale,” she said Wednesday morning,
The remarks underscore the continuing disagreement between Denmark and the United States over the future of Greenland.
Not long after Trump landed in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon, he revived his claim from earlier this year that Greenland, the semi-autonomous territory under Denmark, “should be controlled by the United States.”
He went on to criticize Denmark for underinvesting in defence of the island, saying Copenhagan “doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland”, implying it can’t defend the massive island against Russian or Chinese vessels he claims are operating in the region.
Frederiksen said Denmark and Greenland expected their allies to respect the island’s future, adding: “We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people right for self-determination.”
She also stressed Denmark’s sovereignty, saying: “We are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty.”
Frederiksen added that Denmark was “ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory” and expected fellow members of the alliance to honor their collective defense commitments.
The dispute intensified in March when JD Vance visited the US military’s Pituffik Space Base in Greenland after plans for a broader trip were scaled back following criticism from Greenland leaders.
During the visit, Vance accused Denmark of underinvesting in Greenland’s security, while arguing the Arctic territory was strategically important because of growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
Trump has repeatedly said the US should control Greenland, citing national and international security concerns, but both Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected any suggestion that the island could be transferred to Washington.
Source: Saudi Gazette