Danish PM Affirms Greenland's Right to Determine Its Future in Call with Trump

In a significant phone call, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reassured President-elect Donald Trump that Greenland's fate rests with its own citizens, countering U.S. acquisition interests.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently engaged in a pivotal 45-minute phone call with President-elect Donald Trump regarding Greenland's future. The dialogue was sparked by Trump's earlier remarks suggesting the U.S. desire to acquire this vast Arctic island, which functions as an autonomous territory under Danish governance. Frederiksen underscored that it's ultimately up to the Greenlandic people to determine their destiny, echoing statements from Greenland’s own Prime Minister, Mute Egede, who firmly stated that Greenland is "not for sale."

Trump did not publicly respond to the conversation; however, he shared a past poll on his TruthSocial account indicating that a substantial 68% of Greenlanders support independence from Denmark, adding further weight to the ongoing discourse about self-determination. A referendum on this matter is anticipated, and Frederiksen confirmed that the Danish government would respect the outcomes of any such vote.

In the wake of Trump's earlier description of the acquisition proposal as "absurd," which led to the abrupt cancellation of his planned visit to Denmark, Frederiksen outlined Denmark's commitment to enhance its security responsibilities in the Arctic. She also noted the vital contribution of Danish companies to the U.S. economy, which could be jeopardized by Trump’s high tariff threats on Danish exports if Greenland negotiations were not favorable.

In response to the anticipated ramifications of this dialogue, Frederiksen scheduled a "crisis meeting" with key business leaders, including the heads of renowned companies like Carlsberg and Novo Nordisk, as well as convening an extraordinary session of the Foreign Policy Council.

Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz expressed her approval of Frederiksen's stance, emphasizing the importance of direct communication between leaders. However, not all responses were positive; opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov criticized Frederiksen for appearing to concede Danish sovereignty over Greenland in her discussions with Trump.

Despite differing opinions, the broader sentiment in Denmark indicates concern about Trump's interest and the potential implications for Denmark's relations with both Greenland and the U.S. With Trump reportedly prioritizing the subject, political analysts remain vigilant about upcoming developments in this evolving saga.