Greenland’s elected leader said the giant Arctic island said it was not for sale.
“Greenland is ours. We are not and will never be for sale. We must not lose our age-old struggle for freedom.”・Prime Minister Egede stated in written comments.
The president-elect of the United States on Sunday announced the appointment of former special envoy to Sweden Ken Howley as ambassador to Copenhagen and commented on the status of Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark.
“For purposes of national security and freedom around the world, the United States feels that ownership and control of Greenland is absolutely necessary,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
President Trump, who will take office on January 20, did not elaborate on the statement.
For many observers, Trump’s comments caused a sense of deja vu. During his first term in 2019, President Trump suggested that the United States should purchase Greenland, which is home to the strategically important Pitafik Space Station.
The idea was roundly rejected by authorities in Denmark and on the island itself, before any formal discussions took place. It also sparked widespread ridicule and became emblematic of the disruption Trump has wrought on traditional global diplomacy. The current expectation is that something will happen again when Trump returns to the White House next month.
In 2019, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen branded Trump’s initial offer “ridiculous” and the then-U.S. president called her “mean” and canceled a trip to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen.
Separately on Sunday, President Trump also threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging exorbitant fees for use of the Central American sea route, and Panamanian President Jose Raul. This elicited a severe rebuke from Mulino.
Report contributed by Reuters
