Denmark’s leader has urged Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland after the US president reiterated his wish to do so in a new interview.
Mr Trump has long advocated for the mineral-rich island, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States.
Speaking a day after the US captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Mr Trump told The Atlantic: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
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In a statement issued on Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland.
“The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom.”
Ms Frederiksen continued: “I would therefore strongly urge the US to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale.”
Trump comments ‘disrespectful’, says Greenland leader
Greenland‘s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen has also criticised Mr Trump’s latest comments, labelling them “disrespectful”.
He said in a statement: “When the President of the United States says that ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong. It’s disrespectful.”
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Mr Trump’s latest comments came a day after he said Washington will temporarily “run” Venezuela following the detention of its hard-left president, Mr Maduro – which has heightened concerns that something similar could happen to Greenland.
Why is Trump interested in Greenland?
The US president has long been interested in the States owning Greenland – and once suggested buying it in what would “essentially [be] a large real estate deal”.
The Arctic island’s strategic position between Europe and the States makes it a key site for a US ballistic missile defence system.
Its mineral wealth is also attractive as the US hopes to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, depends heavily on Danish subsidies but has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement.
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Denmark has sought to repair strained ties with Greenland over the past year, while also investing in Arctic defence as part of efforts to ease tensions with the Trump administration.
