Danish PM Asserts Greenland's Right to Self-Determination in Call with Trump

In a recent conversation, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized the importance of Greenland's self-determination in light of President-elect Donald Trump's controversial interest in acquiring the territory, stirring political waves across the Atlantic.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly declared that the future of Greenland lies in the hands of its inhabitants during a phone call with President-elect Donald Trump that lasted 45 minutes. The discussion arose in response to Trump's insinuation regarding the United States' desire to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, which has caused significant concern in both Copenhagen and Nuuk.

During the Wednesday call, Frederiksen reiterated to Trump that Denmark is prepared to play a greater role in Arctic security, echoing sentiments expressed by Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, who stated that "Greenland is not for sale." However, Trump, choosing not to respond directly, did share a 2019 poll on his TruthSocial platform showing that 68% of Greenlanders favored independence from Denmark, suggesting a possible future referendum on the issue. Denmark has indicated it would honor the outcome of such a vote.

This is not the first time Trump has shown interest in Greenland; his previous comments on acquiring the territory were met with derision from Frederiksen, resulting in him canceling a trip to Denmark in 2019. Frederiksen used the latest phone call to highlight the contributions of Danish businesses to employment and growth in the U.S., while also addressing Trump's recent threats of imposing high tariffs on Denmark should it not relinquish concerns over Greenland. Such tariffs could severely threaten Denmark's economy since the U.S. is its second-largest export market.

The Danish Prime Minister is set to convene a "crisis meeting" with leaders from major companies, including Carlsberg and Novo Nordisk, and will host an extraordinary Foreign Policy Council session with parliamentary members following the phone call. Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz expressed her satisfaction with Frederiksen's commitment to self-determination, while opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov criticized the Prime Minister's approach as undermining Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland.

Political observers noted that Trump's willingness to engage for such an extended time indicates that Greenland’s fate is a significant concern for him rather than merely a fleeting issue, intensifying the dialogue around Greenland's strategic importance and the island's governance future.