Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday that Greenland was “not for sale” following remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting the territory should be controlled by Washington and not Copenhagen.
“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 told journalists ahead of the meeting of the military alliance.
Trump reopened another old wound with NATO on Tuesday, reiterating that Greenland “should be controlled by the United States.”
At the beginning of the year, Trump had spoken about the possibility of taking control of the self-governing Danish territory, emphasizing its importance to US national security.
Trump’s retreat from the claim to Greenland came after weeks of escalating rhetoric and even threats to use force to seize the Danish island.
Talks between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in January, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, resulted in a “framework agreement” on Greenland, the US president had announced, without disclosing details.
“We hope that everyone, including all allies, will respect the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination,” Frederiksen said. “We are a sovereign nation, and we demand respect for our territorial integrity and sovereignty.” (AFP)
