Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede responded to comments by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding “ownership and control” over the island, stating that it was “not for sale.”
Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.
Trump announced on Sunday that he had chosen Ken Howery, a former envoy to Sweden, as his ambassador to Copenhagen and commented on the status of Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark hosting a major US Air Force base.
The Republican leader, who takes office as US president on 20 January, wrote on his social media platform Truth Social:
For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.
The Danish government should make it clear that control of Greenland was not subject to discussion or negotiation, MP Rasmus Jarlov of the opposition Conservative Party stated.
To the extent that US activities aim to take control of Danish territory, it must be prohibited and countered. Then they can’t be there at all.
Denmark-Greenland ties
Greenland, rich in mineral, oil and gas resources, is developing slowly, making its economy dependent on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark. With its Pituffik Space Base, the island is of strategic importance to the US military. Their ballistic missile early warning systems are also important, as the shortest route from Europe to North America passes through the island.
During his previous presidential term, Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland in 2019, but the offer was quickly rejected by Denmark as well as the island’s authorities even before official discussions. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Trump’s proposal “absurd” at the time.
Greenland has the right to declare independence from Denmark. However, the island of about 56,000 people, which receives significant budget transfers from Copenhagen each year, has so far refrained from doing so.
Separately on Sunday, Trump threatened to restore US control of the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of overcharging for use of the Central American passage.
