Greenland's status under debate: PM rejects Danish and US sovereignty

Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, declared on January 10 that Greenland should not belong to either Denmark or the United States, emphasising that the territory, which is self-governing but still part of Denmark, should be independent.

"We don't want to be Danish or American; we want to be Greenlandic. The status quo is no longer viable. We need to explore new options," Egede stated during a press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

With a general election approaching in the spring, Egede noted that he has not yet had a conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has previously expressed interest in making Greenland a part of the United States. However, Egede indicated his openness to begin a dialogue on the matter.

At the same time, the Greenlandic Prime Minister welcomed new partnerships aimed at developing the island's abundant mining resources, highlighting ongoing discussions with both Copenhagen and Washington regarding the extraction of vital minerals.

Prime Minister Frederiksen acknowledged Greenland's desire for greater independence as "legitimate and understandable." She also described the US interest in the island as "positive," emphasizing the importance of strengthening commercial relations and cooperation in the mining sector. However, Frederiksen stressed the importance of preserving the Danish Kingdom, which includes both Greenland and the Faroe Islands. She expressed Denmark's commitment to investing in Greenland's future, including enhancing infrastructure such as airports.

Frederiksen also said she would be open to discussing Greenland's future with Trump, but clarified that he had not raised the subject during their conversations following his election victory.

Trump has previously suggested that Denmark should relinquish Greenland to the United States in order to better protect American national interests.

FT notes that the US already maintains a military base on the island, which plays a crucial role in Arctic security, serves as a key point for sea routes through the region, and is rich in rare earth metals and other resources. The article also highlights that Chinese companies had shown interest in investing in Greenland's airports and mining operations, but those projects were blocked by both the US and Denmark.

In response to growing security concerns, the Danish government has proposed the acquisition of two new patrol ships and plans to modernize the Kangerlussuaq airport to accommodate F-35 aircraft, as well as increase its military presence in Greenland. Additionally, Denmark intends to boost the number of dog-sled patrols in the region.

To further enhance Arctic security, Denmark has allocated $400 million for strengthening patrols over the North Atlantic and Arctic regions using long-range drones. After a decade of defense spending cuts, Denmark announced a $26 billion defense budget over the next 10 years, with lawmakers beginning discussions on how best to allocate these funds on Friday.

Currently, Denmark's efforts to safeguard Greenland include four ships, one patrol plane, and 12 dog-sled patrol teams.

By Tamilla Hasanova