The Danish government has reached out to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for a phone conversation following his controversial remarks about potentially gaining control over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a press conference on Thursday that no official response has been received yet.
Earlier, all party leaders in the Danish Parliament, known as the Folketing, were briefed on diplomatic efforts after Trump suggested he would not rule out military measures to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory under Denmark’s realm.
“At this point, we have no reason to believe that President-elect Trump will act on these statements,” Frederiksen said. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen added, “We should take him seriously, but not literally.”
Frederiksen also revealed that informal conversations with the incoming U.S. administration have been ongoing since Trump’s election victory in November. She expressed hope for formal discussions following Trump’s inauguration.
However, the situation has sparked dissatisfaction among Danish political parties. The Danish People’s Party called for clearer policies regarding Greenland’s autonomy, while the Red-Green Alliance criticized the government’s stance as too lenient toward the United States.
Greenland, the world’s largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953. It became an integral part of Denmark, granting Greenlanders Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, allowing for greater self-governance while Denmark retains control over foreign and defense policies.
On December 22, Trump announced his nominee for ambassador to Denmark and wrote on his social media platform, “For the purpose of National Security and Freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Adding to the speculation, Trump Jr., the eldest son of the President-elect, visited Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Tuesday. Describing the trip as a private visit, he told reporters, “We are just here as tourists, to see it all,” declining to comment on broader American interest in the island.
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Danish govt seeks dialogue with Trump amid Greenland tensions
cgtn.com
