Greenlanders rejected U.S. president Donald Trump’s renewed call for U.S. control of the Arctic island on Wednesday, saying its future should be decided by Greenlanders themselves.
Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkey’s Ankara, Trump renewed his demand to gain control of Greenland, arguing it was important for U.S. national security.
Referring to Greenland, Trump reiterated his position that the island is vital for U.S. security at the NATO summit in Ankara.
“Greenland is very important to the United States, but it’s not important to Denmark. We need it for protection of the world – not just the United States. We shouldn’t have given it back to them because we’re the ones that need it,” Trump said Wednesday during a NATO summit.
Greenland is a “big problem for us” the president said. “And the other big problem is the fact that when we wanted them, we didn’t want them badly, but we did say if you want to join us, and they all said no.”
In a bilateral meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, Trump in response to a reporter’s question about Greenland commented. “It’s an important part for the United States, and it’s surrounded by China ships and Russian ships, and that’s not going to happen…. That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.”
Trump also introduced a new threat at the NATO summit in Turkey: removing U.S. soldiers from Europe.
“With all the money we spend to help them with Russia – and we don’t have to spend any money ‒ we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because, as you probably noticed, Europe’s a very different place than it was 20 years ago, a lot different, much different.”
“They better be careful with immigration and energy,” he warned “If they’re not careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore.”
Asked by a reporter on board the Air Force One on his way back whether US is going to pull more troops out of Europe, he replied: “I haven’t made that final determination. A lot’s going to depend on Greenland. I mean, you know, I make a very good deal on Greenland and if we don’t maybe I will. And a lot’s dependent on Iran.”
Greenland’s government has repeatedly said that it is not for sale. Prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Thursday Greenland’s future should be decided by its people.
As he said: “Unfortunately, we have to repeat again: Greenland is not for sale. There must be respect for territorial integrity, international law and our right to self-determination. Greenland’s future is decided by us in Greenland and not by others. Repeating the desire to take over or control our country does not change that.”
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland is not for sale, pushing back directly against renewed comments by U.S. president Donald Trump who said the island must come under American control.
Frederiksen, speaking to media, was unequivocal in her response. She emphasized that Greenland is not for sale and called on NATO allies to respect the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.
