Greenlandic PM willing to negotiate with Trump on territory's future

Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede stated that he is open to entering negotiations with President-elect Trump regarding the future of the mineral-rich Arctic territory. 

However, he emphasised that his people have no desire to become Americans, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

At a press conference in Denmark, which holds nominal sovereignty over Greenland, Egede acknowledged that Greenland is “a place that the Americans see as part of their world.”

While he has not yet spoken with Trump, he expressed his willingness to engage in “discussions about what unites us.” “We are ready to talk,” he said. “Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions.” 

Egede was accompanied at the press conference by his Danish counterpart, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Greenland was a Danish colony from the 18th century until it became a self-governing territory of Denmark in 1953.

In 2009, Greenland gained the right to pursue independence if its people ever chose to do so—a move that Egede supports.

“We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house … This is something everyone should respect,” he said. “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’s strategic significance has grown dramatically in recent years, as melting Arctic ice opens up new waterways, prompting world powers to compete for new territories between the United States and Russia. 

The territory and its surrounding waters are abundant in vital natural resources. As per its current status, Denmark holds responsibility for the island’s defense. In recent days, the country sent private messages to Team Trump indicating their openness to discussing how American security needs could be addressed without transferring formal sovereignty.

When Trump initially suggested purchasing Greenland, some residents of the territory saw it as a joke, while others viewed it as a serious threat to their sovereignty. If Trump adopts a "might makes right" approach to foreign policy and pressures Denmark into giving up sovereign land, Americans should be outraged too. 

On December 22, 2024, Trump made fresh comments regarding Greenland, stating on Truth Social, "The United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity". He had made similar remarks in 2019 during his first presidential term.

By Naila Huseynova