Mette Frederiksen visits the Arctic island because the US continues its threats of taking up the area.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has referred to as for elevated Arctic defence collaboration with america throughout a go to to Greenland, and firmly dismissed Washington’s want to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Frederiksen’s go to follows months of stress between Washington and Copenhagen over US President Donald Trump’s repeated declarations that the Arctic island ought to change into part of the US.
At a information convention with the outgoing and incoming Greenlandic prime ministers on Thursday, Frederiksen switched to English to handle the US immediately, inviting it to strengthen safety within the Arctic along with Denmark and Greenland.
“I want to take this chance to ship a message on to america of America,” Frederiksen stated on board a army vessel with snowy cliffs within the background.
“This isn’t solely about Greenland or Denmark, that is in regards to the world order that we’ve constructed collectively throughout the Atlantic over generations. You can not annex one other nation, not even with an argument about safety,” she stated.
In response to The Washington Publish newspaper, the White Home is at present estimating the price for the US federal authorities to regulate Greenland, and the potential revenues it may derive from exploiting its largely untapped pure assets.
US Vice President JD Vance additionally visited the nation’s army base in northern Greenland final Friday and accused Denmark of not doing a superb job of maintaining the Arctic island secure. He steered the US would higher shield the strategically positioned territory.
Frederiksen stated on the time Vance’s description of Denmark was “not honest”.
On Thursday, she outlined Denmark’s safety commitments, together with new Arctic ships, long-range drones and satellite tv for pc capability, and stated Denmark would announce extra investments.
“If you wish to be extra current in Greenland, Greenland and Denmark is prepared and if you want to strengthen the safety within the Arctic similar to us, then allow us to do it collectively,” she stated.
The Danish prime minister arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day go to, and rode across the capital, Nuuk, in a Danish navy patrol boat, alongside Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and his predecessor Mute Egede.
Danish public broadcaster DR stated many individuals cheered at seeing Frederiksen, with one resident shouting from a window: “Hey Mette! Thanks for being right here.”
“It’s clear that with the strain placed on Greenland by the Individuals, when it comes to sovereignty, borders and the longer term, we have to keep united,” Frederiksen stated after arriving on the island on Wednesday.
In the meantime, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen met on the sidelines of a NATO assembly in Brussels on Thursday.
In response to Rasmussen, Rubio acknowledged Greenland’s proper to self-determination.
Rubio reaffirmed the “robust relationship” between the US and Denmark, the State Division stated in a press release after the assembly.