COPENHAGEN, Jan 8 — Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but it will not become a United States (US) state, Denmark's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island.
Greenland's leader held talks on Wednesday with the Danish king in Copenhagen, a day after Trump's remarks thrust the fate of the Danish-ruled island to the top of world headlines.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, said on Tuesday that he would not rule out using military or economic action to make Greenland part of the US. The same day, Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. made a private visit to Greenland.
Greenland, the world's biggest island, has been part of Denmark for 600 years, although its 57,000 people now govern their own domestic affairs. The island's government, led by Prime Minister Mute Egede, aims for eventual independence.
"We fully recognise that Greenland has its own ambitions. If they materialise, Greenland will become independent, though hardly with an ambition to become a federal state in the United States," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
He told the press that the US' heightened security concerns in the Arctic were legitimate following increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
"I do not think that we are in a foreign policy crisis. We are open to a dialogue with the Americans on how we can possibly cooperate even more closely than we do to ensure that the American ambitions are fulfilled," Rasmussen said.
Although Denmark itself played down the seriousness of Trump's threat to its territory, the returning president's openly stated ambition to expand US borders has jolted European allies less than two weeks before he takes office.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Europe would not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, although he did not believe the US would invade.
A German government spokesperson said Berlin stood by the principle that borders must not be changed by force. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the sovereignty of European Union member states had to be respected.
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Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen answers questions from the press in the Parliament, Christiansborg Castle, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 8, 2025. — Picture by REUTERS via RITZAU SCANPIX[/caption]
Strained relations
Greenland's relations with Denmark have lately been strained by allegations of colonial-era mistreatment of Greenlanders. Egede has said the island is not for sale, while in his New Year speech, he stepped up his push for independence. Denmark says the territory's fate can be decided only by Greenlanders.
On Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she could not imagine Trump's ambitions would lead to US military intervention in Greenland. Denmark's military capabilities there are limited to four inspection vessels, a Challenger surveillance plane, and dog sled patrols.
Responding to Trump's threat of tariffs against Denmark, she said she did not think a trade war with the US is a good way forward. Denmark is home to Novo Nordisk, Europe's most valuable company, which makes the weight-loss drug Wegovy which has become hugely popular in the US.
The Danish royal palace gave no details ahead of King Frederik X's meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday with Greenland's Prime Minister Egede.
While many Greenlanders dream of independence from Denmark, the king remains popular on the island, having spent extended periods there, including a four-month expedition on the ice sheet. Last month, the royal court modified its coat of arms, enlarging a polar bear that symbolises Greenland.
"I am sure the king is really the person best placed in Denmark to deal with this issue right now because he has a long history with Greenland," said Reykjavik-based consultant specialising in Greenland Damien Degeorges to Reuters.
"He is popular in Greenland. So he can clearly be helpful to the Danish-Greenlandic relationship," he added.
Trump already raised the issue of the US taking over Greenland during his first presidency, but his latest remarks still left many Danes baffled.
"I find it extremely ridiculous. We have an alliance, we are allies. So this does not really respect that," said data engineer Jeppe Finne Sorenson in the Danish capital.
— Reuters
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Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivers her New Year's speech at the Marienborg Prime Minister's residence in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, on January 1, 2025. — Picture by REUTERS via RITZAU SCANPIX[/caption]
