Greenland Leader Open to Talks With Trump Over US Interests in Arctic Island

The prime minister of Greenland stated he welcomes talks with President-elect Donald Trump over Greenland’s future.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede has expressed readiness to carry talks with President-elect Donald Trump over the president-elect’s expressions of curiosity in buying Greenland on the premise of safety imperatives for america and its allies.

Egede made the comment throughout a joint press convention with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 10. The prime minister of Greenland stated he had not but spoken with Trump relating to the president-elect’s overtures about america assuming management of the Arctic island, by army pressure if essential.

“We’re prepared to speak,” Egede stated. “Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation implies that you’ll work in the direction of options.”

Egede added, nevertheless, that Greenland seeks to be an unbiased, sovereign nation; not a U.S. territory. This means that talks with Trump would revolve round a deal targeted on assets and safety, relatively than about turning into the 51st state.

“We now have a need for independence, a need to be the grasp of our personal home,” Egede stated. “That is one thing everybody ought to respect.”

As a semi-autonomous territory, Greenland runs its personal home issues however its international affairs—together with protection—are managed by Denmark. The previous Danish colony is strategically situated about midway alongside the shortest route from Europe and Russia to North America. It’s additionally house to a big U.S. area facility and its proximity to the Arctic implies that it performs a key function in monitoring and managing Arctic safety.

The Arctic is the shortest path for intercontinental ballistic missiles between america and Russia, making Greenland a essential outpost amid rising international energy rivalries. Denmark and america are certain by the 1951 Protection Settlement, granting Washington unique management over a few of Greenland’s protection zones and the flexibility to reinforce U.S. surveillance of Arctic waters, central to NATO’s Arctic technique.

Trump has stated that buying Greenland can be helpful for the safety and financial pursuits of america and its allies.

“We’d like Greenland for nationwide safety functions,” Trump stated at a current press convention at Mar-a-Lago. “I’m speaking about defending the free world.”

The president-elect’s proposal to purchase Greenland was rejected by the Greenlandic prime minister, who stated the Arctic island is “not on the market.”

The Greenlandic chief additionally stated at the start of January {that a} authorized framework has been established for Greenland to realize independence from Denmark and turn into a totally sovereign nation—an effort that has been supported by China.

“The Greenlandic folks’s alternative for independence has been adopted by means of the provisions of the Self-Authorities Act, thereby making a authorized foundation for a way independence may be achieved,” Egede stated.

“A draft structure for our nation has additionally been ready,” he added. “Work has already begun with regard to creating the framework for Greenland as an unbiased state throughout the prospects and provisions of the Self-Authorities Act.”

Through the Jan. 10 press convention in Copenhagen, the Greenlandic prime minister stated that the will to hunt independence doesn’t imply reducing all ties or relations with Denmark.

“Greenland is for the Greenlandic folks. We don’t need to be Danish, we don’t need to be American. We need to be Greenlandic,” Egede stated on the presser.

Nevertheless, Egede’s remarks about wanting to carry talks with Trump recommend a possible new deal may very well be within the pipeline that would bolster America’s safety footprint within the Arctic and pave the way in which for extra useful resource extraction, together with for essential minerals.