Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has recently connected with President-elect Donald Trump regarding his controversial statements about Greenland. The Danish government is taking these comments seriously.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump stirred unease when he hinted he wouldn’t dismiss the idea of using military means to bring both the Panama Canal and Greenland under U.S. control. His inauguration is set for January 20, and with it comes a wave of speculation about his policies.
Denmark is open to discussing U.S. interests in the Arctic region but is firm in its stance that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” This sentiment underscores the island’s autonomy, a point supported by many European leaders. Russia, for its part, has expressed a keen interest in maintaining peace and stability in the area.
Speaking to the press after a two-hour meeting, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen shared few specifics but confirmed that Frederiksen’s office had reached out to Trump, even though conversations hadn’t yet taken place.
“We have proposed a dialogue between us,” she mentioned. “I don’t expect anything substantial to unfold until the president-elect officially takes office.” Frederiksen remained optimistic, asserting she didn’t believe Trump would consider forceful acquisition of Greenland. “There is no reason for us to assume that would occur,” she added confidently.
Morten Messerschmidt, leading the right-leaning Danish People’s Party, expressed faith in the government’s intentions, stating on TV2 that he is “totally confident that the Danish government aims to bolster relations with the United States, our key economic and defense ally.”
Conversely, Inger Stojberg of the Denmark Democrats voiced a contrasting view. She sensed a lack of strategic planning from the government, suggesting they appeared “paralyzed” in the face of Trump’s rhetoric. “I hope our officials will adopt a more proactive approach once he’s in office,” she stressed.
Aki-Mathilda Hoegh-Dam, representing Greenland’s interests, expressed appreciation for Frederiksen’s “good dialogue,” emphasizing the need to maintain a level-headed attitude. “It’s essential we remember our good partnership; this situation won’t change that,” she remarked.
Prior to the talks, Foreign Minister Rasmussen highlighted that Denmark has “no intention of escalating a verbal conflict with an incoming president.” He reiterated that Denmark welcomes discussions with the U.S. to safeguard American interests in the Arctic, especially amidst rising competition with China and Russia in the region.
Interestingly, the U.S. maintains a military base in northwest Greenland—an area gaining strategic significance due to the melting ice opening up new shipping routes as a consequence of climate change.
Ms. Frederiksen further announced plans to meet with representatives from both Greenland and the Faroe Islands, another autonomous territory of Denmark, in the coming days. In a post on Instagram, she emphasized her government’s commitment to “safeguarding Denmark’s interests and those of the Danish Realm.”
Mr. Trump first expressed interest in purchasing Greenland back in 2019, a proposal that was swiftly dismissed by both Greenland and Denmark. His recent remarks surfaced as his son, Donald Trump Jr., conducted a private visit to Greenland.
As Greenland seeks to assert more autonomy from Denmark, it is rich in vast untapped mineral and oil reserves, despite restrictions on oil and uranium exploration. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas underlined the importance of respecting the territory’s sovereignty, declaring, “Greenland is part of Denmark.”
“We must uphold the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland,” she stressed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed this sentiment, stating, “Borders must not be altered through force. This principle applies universally, regardless of location.” He updated his views on X, commenting on the collective unease shared among European allies regarding recent U.S. statements. “It’s imperative that we stand united,” he said further.
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made it clear that Russia is keeping a close eye on developments. “We are monitoring this somewhat dramatic situation, which remains verbal at this stage, thankfully,” he noted. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability, expressing readiness to cooperate with any parties interested in maintaining calm in the region.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
