Denmark’s Prime Minister Has Said Greenland Is “Not For Sale” After Trump Said He Wants To Buy It
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen insisted on Denmark's presence in Greenland and said the US and Denmark could collaborate to tackle security concerns.
After US president Donald Trump said he wanted to buy Greenland, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has reiterated that "Greenland is not for sale."
Frederiksen's latest remarks came after Trump on Jan. 25 said the US "is going to have Greenland," an autonomous territory of Denmark, because he believes the island’s people want to join the US.
"I think the people want to be with us and we’ll get it because it’s about the freedom of the world," he said while speaking to reporters.
Trump said that it would be a "very unfriendly act" if Denmark did not let the US take over Greenland, adding that Denmark has not treated Greenlanders well.
In 2019, during his first presidency, Trump had said US control of Greenland was necessary for national security, as it hosts a large US military base.
Just days before assuming office in 2025, Trump said he wouldn't rule out using the military to secure Greenland, with a US government official saying that Trump’s interest in buying Greenland is "not a joke” on Thursday, Jan. 30.
On Jan. 16 Frederiksen told Trump on a call that Greenland is "not for sale,", according to the Financial Times.
On Monday, Feb. 3, before an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, she once again said "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is our territory and it’s not for sale."
Frederiksen added she agrees with US’ concerns about security in Greenland, where Russia and China are becoming more active.
She said the US and Denmark could work together to boost security in Greenland, while Denmark could also increase its own presence.
"If this is about protecting our part of the world, we can find a way forward," Frederiksen added.
Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede has said that the territory is “Greenland's business.”
“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlanders,” Egede said on Jan. 10.
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