Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede stated on Friday that he is prepared to engage in dialogue with the United States’ President-elect, Trump. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to take over the Arctic island of Greenland and has called for respecting Greenland’s wish for independence.
Trump is set to take office as the President of the United States on January 20. He believes that US control over Greenland is crucial, not ruling out the possibility of using military or economic means to take over Greenland.
On January 7, Trump hinted during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that if Denmark refuses the US offer to purchase Greenland, he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark, stressing the island’s importance to US national security.
“For national security reasons, we need Greenland,” he said.
With a population of 57,000, Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 but is now an autonomous territory of Denmark. In 2009, Greenland voted to attain self-government in domestic affairs. Greenland is also home to a major US military base, holding strategic significance for the United States. Trump has expressed doubts about Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland.
During a press conference in Copenhagen on Friday, when asked if he had any contact with Trump, Egede replied, “Not yet, but we are ready to engage in dialogue.”
Egede emphasized Greenland’s own wishes, stating, “We desire independence, to be masters of our own home… This is something that everyone should respect.”
“But that doesn’t mean we want to sever all connections, cooperation, and relationships with Denmark,” he added.
On Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated in a press conference that she had requested a meeting with Trump but would not meet him before his inauguration ceremony.
Furthermore, Axios reported on Saturday citing two sources that Denmark has privately conveyed to the Trump team its willingness to discuss enhancing Greenland’s security or increasing the US military presence on the island without claiming sovereignty over it.
Axios reported that the Danish government hopes to persuade Trump that his concerns about Greenland’s security can be addressed without claiming ownership of Greenland.
On January 8, incoming Trump National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that Greenland is vital to US national security not only due to its abundant minerals and natural resources but also because it hosts the Arctic sea routes crucial for the US to ensure their security.
Waltz stated, “With the retreating Arctic ice cap, China is also rapidly building icebreakers and moving northward. So this is about oil and gas. This is about our national security.”
Denmark has previously stated that Greenland is not for sale.
Waltz noted that Denmark is a US ally but cannot view Greenland as a “remote area.” Geographically located in the Western Hemisphere, Greenland has in the past seen several US presidents considering incorporating the archipelago into the Western Hemisphere.