US pressure on Greenland 'absolutely unacceptable,' says Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
Photo: Mette Frederiksen, Danish prime minister (Getty Images)
The US is exerting "absolutely unacceptable" pressure on Greenland despite talks with Denmark, particularly concerning sovereignty and territorial integrity, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, according to The Guardian.
Read also: Trump shifts Greenland plans amid impeachment risk — Reuters
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that US President Donald Trump remains interested in acquiring the Arctic island of Greenland.
Commenting on Trump’s idea, Frederiksen said, “Unfortunately, the desire is the same,” noting that while the issue is frequently discussed in talks with the US, any pressure on Greenland is "totally unacceptable." She emphasized that the Greenlandic people had never faced threats like this before, making such pressure impermissible.
Frederiksen stressed that Denmark is ready to cooperate with the US, but some matters, such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, are non-negotiable. She indicated that other topics could be discussed, including revisiting the 1951 defence agreement with the US, which she described as providing Washington with a "very easy" way to strengthen influence in Greenland.
"We don’t think it’s over. We now have a working group; we will try to see if we can find a solution, and … we will do whatever we can, but of course there are red lines that will not be crossed," she says.
Negotiations on Greenland
On February 1, Trump claimed that a framework agreement for the US purchase of Greenland was nearly finalized. Following Trump’s interest in the Arctic island, the US and Denmark began negotiations that aim to respect Greenland’s sovereignty.
Washington, Copenhagen, and Greenlandic representatives sought to strengthen Arctic defence, which reportedly prompted Trump’s territorial ambitions. Greenland has established "red lines" that must not be crossed, but the island has reported significant pressure from the US. Trump’s earlier plans to purchase Greenland for money sparked outrage in Greenland, Denmark, and across Europe.
