Up to Greenland to decide its future, Danish PM tells Trump

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Donald Trump that it is up to Greenland to decide its future.

The US president-elect caused a stir in Copenhagen and Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, last week when he revealed that the US wants to acquire the large Arctic island, which is a self-governing part of Denmark.

During a 45-minute phone call on Wednesday, Frederiksen told Trump that Denmark was ready to increase its security role in the Arctic.

He repeated what the Prime Minister of Greenland, Mr. Mute Egede, said recently that Greenland is not for sale.

Trump has not publicly responded to the invitation. However, he also posted on his TruthSocial account a 2019 poll showing that 68% of Greenlanders supported independence from Denmark.

An independence referendum is thought to be on the cards and Denmark has said it will respect any outcome.

When he was the last president, Trump said he wanted to buy Greenland. When Frederiksen called the idea “absurd”, he abruptly canceled the trip to Denmark.

The Danish government said that in his phone call with Trump, Frederiksen also emphasized that “Danish companies support growth and jobs in the US, and that the EU and the US have a common interest in promoting trade.”

Last week, Trump threatened Denmark with heavy tariffs if the country did not leave Greenland.

The proposal set off alarm bells among Danish leaders, as the US is Denmark’s second largest market and any proposed tariffs would have a significant impact on the Danish economy.

On Thursday, Frederiksen will hold what Danish media called a “crisis meeting” with business leaders, including the CEOs of beer giant Carlsberg and drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which produces obesity and diabetes drugs popular in the US.

He should also have a surprise meeting of the Foreign Policy Council and members of parliament.

A member of Greenland’s parliament, Aaja Chemnitz, said he was satisfied with Frederiksen’s statement that any decision about Greenland should be taken by Greenlanders.

“I have a lot of confidence in the work of the prime minister, and I have a lot of confidence in Egede. I think it is important that they have a lot of discussions,” he said.

Earlier this week, Egede said his government was ready to begin negotiations with the incoming Trump administration.

But opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov said he did not approve of Frederiksen’s actions.

Writing on X, he said: “It is not acceptable [Frederiksen] denies Denmark’s rights to Greenland and imposes sole control by a [Greenlander] self-control when speaking to the President of the United States. “

Trump’s comments and his son’s visit to Greenland last week caused concern in Denmark. Faced with an angry prospect that he repeatedly called “Denmark’s best friend”, Frederiksen measured his words as he emphasized Greenland’s right to self-determination.

Hans Redder, political editor of TV2, said that Trump set aside 45 minutes for a phone call with Frederiksen shows that “this Greenland issue is something that is on Trump’s mind – it is not just an idea”.