Repeated threats by US to grab Greenland loom over Nielsen’s first go to to Denmark since taking workplace.
Greenland’s prime minister and his Danish counterpart have introduced a united entrance, criticising United States President Donald Trump’s administration for an absence of respect in its designs to grab the Arctic island, a self-governed Danish territory.
“We’ll by no means, ever be a bit of property that may be purchased by anybody, and that’s the message I believe is most vital to grasp,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen advised reporters on Sunday at a joint information convention in Copenhagen alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Trump’s repeated threats to take over Greenland loomed giant over Nielsen’s first go to to Denmark since taking workplace this month.
Nielsen’s go to follows one by Frederiksen to Greenland in early April when she advised the US: “This isn’t solely about Greenland or Denmark. That is in regards to the world order that we now have constructed collectively throughout the Atlantic over generations. You can’t annex one other nation, not even with an argument about safety.”
Each Frederiksen and Nielsen, who leads Greenland’s new coalition authorities after his centre-right Democrats social gathering gained legislative elections in March, mentioned they’d be keen to fulfill the US chief for talks.
Tensions between the US and Denmark have soared after Trump repeatedly mentioned he wished to take management of resource-rich Greenland for safety causes, refusing to rule out the usage of pressure to safe it.
“I believe we want that for worldwide peace, and if we don’t have that, it’s an enormous menace to our world. So I believe Greenland is essential for worldwide peace,” Trump advised reporters on Thursday throughout a information convention with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Retailer.
US has ‘not been respectful’
Nielsen additionally mentioned on Sunday that Greenland was engaged on strengthening its relations with Denmark as a result of US’s “disrespectful” rhetoric. “We’re in a scenario now the place we have to stand collectively. The speak from the US has not been respectful,” Nielsen mentioned.
“I completely agree with that,” Frederiksen added.
Nielsen reiterated that Greenland was able to deepen ties with the US.
“We’re prepared for a robust partnership, we’re prepared for extra improvement, however we wish respect,” he mentioned. “You can’t have a associate the place there isn’t any mutual respect.”
US Vice President JD Vance paid a go to to Greenland in March, which officers each in Greenland and Denmark considered as a provocation.
Throughout his journey to the Pituffik US army base, Vance castigated Denmark for not having “achieved job by the folks of Greenland”.
“You will have underinvested within the folks of Greenland, and you’ve got underinvested within the safety structure of this unbelievable, lovely landmass,” he mentioned.
Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen responded on social media: “We’re open to criticisms, however let me be fully trustworthy, we don’t respect the tone during which it’s being delivered.”
Nielsen himself has mentioned: “America won’t get Greenland.”
“We don’t belong to anybody else. We determine our personal future,” he added in a Fb publish.
Throughout his two-day go to to Copenhagen, Nielsen will even meet Denmark’s King Frederik and representatives of the Danish parliament.
In a separate assertion, Denmark’s Royal Home mentioned the king would accompany Nielsen again to Greenland for a go to.
Polls present a overwhelming majority of Greenland’s 57,000 folks wish to grow to be impartial from Denmark however don’t want to grow to be a part of the US.