Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged the United States to stop “threatening its historical ally” after President Donald Trump said he “absolutely” needed Greenland.
“I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland,” the Danish prime minister said in a statement, after Mr Trump once again repeated his claim that the US should annex the autonomous Danish territory, reports RTE.
President Trump restated his desire to take over Greenland during an interview with *The Atlantic* magazine.
“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland. The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom,” Ms Frederiksen said, reports RTE.
Mr Trump told the magazine “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence,” reports RTE.
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He made the comments a day after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with Mr Trump saying the United States would run the Latin American country.
This sparked concern in Denmark that a similar move could be attempted in relation to Greenland, which is part of the Danish realm, reports RTE.
“I would therefore strongly urge the US stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale,” Ms Frederiksen said, reports RTE.
The office of Greenland’s prime minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment made outside normal office hours.
In December, Mr Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, a move that renewed criticism from both Denmark and Greenland over US interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island, reports RTE.
Mr Trump has long promoted the idea that Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Danish Kingdom, should become part of the United States, and Mr Landry has publicly backed the proposal.
Greenland’s strategic location between Europe and North America makes it an important site for the US ballistic missile defence system, while its vast mineral resources are appealing as Washington looks to cut dependence on Chinese exports, reports RTE.
The island, a former Danish colony, gained the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on financial support from Denmark.
Over the past year, Denmark has worked to mend strained relations with Greenland while also attempting to reduce tensions with the Trump administration by increasing investment in Arctic defence, reports RTE.
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