On Friday, 10th January, Greenland’s leader Múte Egede expressed his willingness to negotiate with US president-elect Donald Trump regarding the future of the country. However, he made it clear that Greenland was not interested in becoming part of the United States, as reported by the New York Post.
During a press conference in Denmark with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Egede stated that Greenland was open to discussions on cooperation between Greenland and the US. “We are ready to talk. Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions,” he said.
Egede further emphasised Greenland’s desire for independence, stating, “We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house… This is something everyone should respect. Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.”
Greenland, a strategically important and mineral-rich territory, has been a Danish colony since the 18th century and became a self-governing territory under Denmark in 1953. It won the right to pursue independence in 2009, contingent on a vote. Currently, the territory relies on Denmark for defence.
Donald Trump, set to take office on 20th January, previously called for the US to take control of Greenland, referring to it as an “absolute necessity.” In 2019, he voiced similar sentiments and expressed an interest in expanding US territory into the Panama Canal as well.
In response, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish television that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” adding, “Greenland is not for sale,” as reported by the BBC.
