By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Greenland is not a “piece of property that can be bought”, the new Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said on Sunday in response to US President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for Washington to take control of the autonomous Danish territory.
“We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone, and that’s the message I think is most important to understand,” Nielsen, who became Greenland’s Prime Minister this month, said on a visit to Copenhagen.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been controlled by Denmark for about 300 years.
The island governs its own domestic affairs, but foreign and defence policy decisions are made in Copenhagen.
Nielsen said Greenland and Denmark must stand together in the face of “disrespectful” US rhetoric.
He was speaking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in what has been viewed as another show of unity between the two leaders.
Nielsen is also due to return to Greenland on Monday with Denmark’s King Frederik, who will begin his four-day royal visit to the island.
He added that Greenland and Denmark needed to move closer together in light of the new foreign policy situation.
Trump has caused outrage in both Denmark and Greenland for repeatedly saying he wants to bring the Arctic island under US control.
During a speech to Congress in March, Trump said that control of Greenland was essential “for national security and international security”.
He has floated the idea of buying the island and has previously refused to rule out using military force, though US Vice-President JD Vance said last month: “We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary.”
Despite their criticism of Trump’s words, both Nielsen and Frederiksen on Sunday said they would be willing to meet the US President for talks.
Nielsen also reiterated that Greenland was prepared to deepen ties with the US, saying: “We are ready for a strong partnership and more development, but we want respect.”
Nielsen’s visit to Denmark follows Frederiksen’s own trip to Greenland earlier this month.
“You can’t annex other countries,” was her message for the US President at the time.
It followed Vance’s whirlwind visit to the territory, widely criticised in both Denmark and Greenland, during which he reiterated Trump’s ambitions and claimed Copenhagen had “not done a good job” for Greenlanders.
