Greenland chief says his folks do not wish to be People amid Trump curiosity: “We wish to be Greenlandic”

Greenland’s prime minister stated Friday that the mineral-rich Arctic territory’s folks do not wish to be People, however that he understands U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s curiosity within the island given its strategic location and he is open to higher cooperation with Washington.

The feedback from the Greenlandic chief, Múte B. Egede, got here after Trump stated earlier this week that he would not rule out utilizing power or financial strain with a purpose to make Greenland — a semiautonomous territory of Denmark — part of america. Trump stated that it was a matter of nationwide safety for the U.S. Melting sea ice has opened up new delivery routes by the Arctic, and Western powers have already voiced concern about Russia and China utilizing it to spice up their presence within the North Atlantic.

Egede acknowledged that Greenland is a part of the North American continent, and “a spot that the People see as a part of their world.” He stated he hasn’t spoken to Trump, however that he is open to discussions about what “unites us.”

“Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation implies that you’ll work in direction of options,” he stated.

Egede has been calling for independence for Greenland, casting Denmark as a colonial energy that hasn’t all the time handled the Indigenous Inuit inhabitants properly.

“Greenland is for the Greenlandic folks. We don’t wish to be Danish, we don’t wish to be American. We wish to be Greenlandic,” he stated at a information convention alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.

Trump’s need for Greenland has sparked nervousness in Denmark in addition to throughout Europe. America is a robust ally of 27-nation European Union and the main member of the NATO alliance, and plenty of Europeans had been shocked by the suggestion that an incoming U.S. chief might even think about using power towards an ally.

However Frederiksen stated that she sees a constructive side within the dialogue.

“The talk on Greenlandic independence and the most recent bulletins from the U.S. present us the massive curiosity in Greenland,” she stated. “Occasions which set in movement quite a lot of ideas and emotions with many in Greenland and Denmark.”

“The U.S. is our closest ally, and we are going to do every thing to proceed a robust cooperation,” she stated.

Frederiksen and Egede spoke to journalists after a biannual meeting of Denmark and two territories of its kingdom, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The assembly had been beforehand scheduled and wasn’t known as in response to Trump’s current remarks. Trump’s eldest son additionally made a go to to Greenland on Tuesday, touchdown in a aircraft emblazoned with the phrase TRUMP and handing out Make America Nice Once more caps to locals.

The Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported Friday that Trump’s workforce inspired homeless and socially deprived folks in Greenland to look in a video carrying the MAGA hats after being provided a free meal in a pleasant restaurant. The report quoted a neighborhood resident, Tom Amtof, who acknowledged a few of these in a video broadcast by Trump’s workforce.

“They’re being bribed, and it’s deeply distasteful,” he stated.

Greenland has a inhabitants of 57,000. But it surely’s an enormous territory possessing pure assets that embrace oil, gasoline, and uncommon earth components, that are anticipated to turn out to be extra accessible as ice melts due to local weather change. Greenland could have important reserves of as much as 31 completely different minerals, together with lithium and graphite. These uncommon supplies are wanted to supply electrical car batteries. China at the moment produces about 65% of the world’s graphite.

Whereas Copenhagen is chargeable for its international affairs and protection, the U.S. additionally shares accountability for Greenland’s protection
and operates a base there, Pituffik Area Base, which to today stays the American navy’s northernmost set up.

contributed to this report.