Greenland PM slams Trump’s renewed interest in annexation as disrespectful to Greenlanders
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has not treated Greenlanders respectfully since expressing his renewed interest in acquiring the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island, emphasising the need to foster relations with countries that show them respect.
Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring the island during his address to Congress last Tuesday, painting a picture of prosperity and safety for the “incredible people” of Greenland, an autonomous territory of the kingdom of Denmark.
Trump reaffirmed that message in a Truth Social post early on Monday, writing, “We will continue to keep you safe, as we have since World War II. We are ready to invest billions of dollars to create new jobs and make you rich.”
Meanwhile, a recent poll indicated that 85% of Greenlanders do not wish to become a part of the United States, with nearly half seeing Trump’s interest as a threat.
Greenland’s prime minister told Danish public broadcaster DR in an interview aired on Monday, “We deserve to be treated with respect, and I don’t think the U.S. president has done that recently since he took office.”
“I think that the recent things the American president has been doing means that people don’t want to get as close to (the U.S.) as they might have wanted in the past,” he added.
“We need to draw a line in the sand and put more effort into (cultivating relations with) the countries that show us respect for the future we want to build,” said Egede, in comments aired a day before Greenland holds a general election.
Egede has repeatedly said that Greenland, whose population is only 57,000, belongs to its people and that it should decide on its own future. He supports full independence for Greenland.
The island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York than the Danish capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil, and natural gas wealth, but development has been slow, and its economy remains heavily reliant for now on fishing as well as annual subsidies from Denmark.
In total, Denmark spends just under $1 billion each year on Greenland, or $17,500 for each inhabitant.
Regarding the option of force, Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic means to gain control of Greenland. However, Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News, has dismissed the idea of using military force.
According to Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher and expert on Greenland, the idea of buying Greenland is based on a misunderstanding of international law and the principle of self-determination, which gives people the right to choose their own political status.
