How Nuuk and Copenhagen Counter Trump Statements About Taking Greenland With Force
When asked directly whether he would rule out the use of military or economic force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, Donald Trump (R) responded at a press conference on Tuesday: “No, I can't assure you on either of those two, but I can say this: We need them for economic security.” (Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Greenlandic power of definition applies here, the leaders in Nuuk, supported by Copenhagen, respond to Trump. At the same time, they express a certain understanding of the interest, invite increased cooperation with Washington D.C., and call for internal composure.
On December 22, US President-elect Donald Trump stated that American "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for purposes of national security and freedom in the world.
Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally of the US.
The Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede (IA) has several times underlined that the island belongs to the Greenlanders and is not for sale; that they will decide their future for themselves and that they stand by their search for independence.
Egede also encourages composure in the face of the pressure from Trump.
"The messages cause worry, of course. However, it is necessary that we as a nation do not act hastily," he tells KNR on Wednesday.
The Arctic context
Egede considers the coming US president's statements deeply inappropriate, partly in light of an Arctic co-understanding to strive for stability in the region.
"We must all remember that the Arctic countries, including the US, have committed to the Arctic being a low-tension area," he points out to the aforementioned Greenlandic broadcaster.
Múte B. Egede, Prime Minister of Greenland. (Photo: the Arctic Circle)
Upcoming Greenlandic election
PM Egede particularly calls for calm and unity in the run-up to the election for the Greenlandic parliament Inatsisartut, which will take place on April 6th at the latest.
"We are a small population, and although we would like to highlight the differences between the parties, I want to appeal for us to stand together for our country and our future and not enter into a panic mode because of the situation that has arisen," says Egede (IA) to Sermitsiaq on Wednesday afternoon.
This Sunday, he announces on Facebook that the Government of Greenland, Naalakkersuisut, has called the various party leaders to a meeting on Tuesday to reach a common position after this week's events.
"We should also remember that we have international cooperation relations and agreements that we should rely on and further develop, also with the US to a great extent. We are allies, and that is our starting point," he tells the aforementioned Greenlandic newspaper.
Longer reply to Trump
On Wednesday night, Greenland's Naalakkersuisoq (minister) for Independence and Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt (S), gave a longer statement on Trump's latest remarks.
Initially, the statement highlights the Greenlanders' fight for independence, their own power of definition, and rights as a self-determining people.
"Greenland's development and future are decided solely by its people," Motzfeldt emphasizes.
"On the road to an independent Greenland, we are open to more and constructive cooperation with our nearest neighbors. Greenland looks forward to discussing the possibilities for business cooperation and the development of Greenland's mineral sector, including critical minerals and other relevant areas with the US," she points out.
Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland's Naalakkersuisoq (minister) for Independence and Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, Motzfeldt reiterates that Greenland has cooperated with the US on defense for more than 80 years "for the benefit of the security of both countries and the rest of the Western world" and that Nuuk will continue to cooperate with Washington D.C. as one of its closest partners.
"Greenland is aware of the changed security dynamics in the Arctic. We understand and recognize that Greenland plays a decisive and important role for the US's national security interests. This is the reason why Greenland is the host of an essential American base in Northern Greenland [Pituffik Space Base, ed.note]," she notes and continues:
"Greenland looks forward to working with the incoming US administration and other NATO allies to ensure security and stability in the Arctic region."
"Disrespectful"
"Greenland is not "MAGA" and is not going to be "MAGA" ['Make America Great Again', as Trump has stated, ed. note]," says Aaja Chemnitz (IA), representative for Greenland in the Danish parliament, to CNN on Wednesday.
"I also think that this in many ways is a Trump stunt. It is what he has done many times before. But I also think that the majority in Greenland find it quite scary and uncomfortable that there is so much focus on Greenland and that the US is in a disrespectful way showing that they would like to be buying or controlling Greenland. That is not what the population in Greenland wants," she continues.
Chemnitz considers Trump's statements rude threats against close allies, reports DR on Wednesday.
"This is serious, there is no doubt about that. I also believe it is important that we keep our heads cool and our hearts warm in this situation. It is time for reflection, as there have been days of severe statements," she says to the Danish national broadcaster.
The parliament member also emphasizes the significance of close Danish-Greenlandic contact in the tense situation and says she is in regular dialogue with Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen (S).
Aaja Chemnitz, representative for Greenland in the Danish parliament, the Folketing. (Photo: the Arctic Circle)
Gathered in Copenhagen
A delegation from the Greenlandic government, including the prime minister and the ministers of foreign affairs, finance and trade, has also been in Copenhagen this week for various scheduled meetings.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M), and his Greenlandic colleague Motzfeldt met, reported the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.
On Friday, the prime ministers of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands gathered for the biannual meeting within the Danish realm. A meeting in Kingdom’s Contact Committee for Foreign Affairs, Security and Defense Policy followed, where relevant ministers from the three countries participated.
At the PMs' meeting, discussions included how Greenland and the Faroe Islands can be given greater room for manoeuvre in foreign policy, writes DR.
“We agree to move forward along the path to achieve an even more equal cooperation,” says Frederiksen at a joint press conference with Egede.
Frederiksen also had a meeting with the party leaders in the Danish parliament on Thursday evening about the situation between Denmark, Greenland and the US. After this, it was announced that she has asked to have a conversation with Trump, but expects this to take place only after his inauguration as president on January 20.
Egede states at the press conference on Friday that he is also ready to talk to Trump, but at the same time clarifies that that Greenlanders want to be Greenlanders, and that they seek independence.
Danish will to cooperate
"I cannot imagine that we will get there," Frederiksen told the news agency Ritzau on Tuesday evening in response to Trump's openness to using military or economic force to gain control over Greenland.
On Wednesday evening, the PM announced on Instagram that she had met the leader of Naalakkersuisut that same day, contacted several European leaders by telephone, and discussed the government's events.
"Not everything can be said publicly, but you can be sure that we, from the government's side, are doing everything we can to safeguard the interests of Denmark and the realm. As I also said yesterday, the United States is Denmark's closest ally, and we are only interested in strong cooperation. We are doing our part to support that, also in these days," Frederiksen writes and continues:
"I think it is completely natural that the United States is concerned about the Arctic and Greenland. It has been that way for decades, and in an increasingly turbulent world, the North Atlantic is only becoming more critical. It requires more – not less – cooperation between allies, which is also one reason why it has become a greater priority in NATO, for example."
The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. (Photo: Martin Bech Knudsen/the Danish Prime Minister's Office)
Furthermore, the Danish PM also addresses the matter of Greenlandic independence:
"I understand well that is a widespread wish in Greenland, and I will, therefore, reiterate that this decision starts and ends in Nuuk. Greenland is the Greenlanders', and as Múte B. Egede has said, the Greenlanders themselves must define their future. Denmark will at no point oppose that process."
At the same time, Frederiksen expresses a clear wish to conserve the realm.
"We have some dark chapters in our history together that we, from the Danish side, must confront. And I will do my part so that all three countries and peoples can experience and see themselves as part of a community. And hopefully, a community that develops and renews itself."
"That is the task now. And then we must hold on to the alliance and the partnership with the US, in NATO and the EU," she asserts.
New investment in Arctic capabilities underway
This week, the Danish government has also begun planned negotiations on a new partial agreement under the defense settlement on investing in capabilities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.
The negotiations are taking place with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the spokespeople on defense in the Danish parliament.
Denmark’s Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V) had a preliminary discussion with Naalakkersuisoq Motzfeldt about these negotiations in Nuuk in November.
On December 23, he announced to Jyllands-Posten that the Danish government has plans to invest billions of DKK in the defense of the Arctic – and said that it was "irony of fate" that this coincided with Trump's remarks about Greenland the day before.
Poulsen outlined that the government wants to allocate funds for two new inspection ships, two additional new long-range drones, two new sled teams for the Sirius patrol and more personnel for the Arctic Command – which has operational command of the Danish forces stationed in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland's Naalakkersuisoq of Independence and Foreign Affairs, in a meeting with Denmark’s Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen. (Archive photo: The Danish Ministry of Defense)
‘Haven't done enough’
Poulsen says to DR on Friday that Denmark has long neglected to invest sufficiently in Arctic military capabilities, and that a new partial agreement is therefore needed.
The Danish national broadcaster points out that contracts have not yet been signed for key procurements launched in the cross-political agreement on an Arctic capacity package in 2021 – such as the original two long-range drones for monitoring the GIUK gap and air warning radar in the Faroe Islands.
In May, Denmark and Norway, which will also acquire such drones, signed a letter of intent on drone cooperation.
