‘We don’t want to be Americans’ – Greenland’s PM issues defiant statement after Trump insists US ‘needs the island’
Greenland’s prime minister has told Donald Trump, “We don’t want to be American,” after the US president warned he could take the island “the easy way or the hard way”.
In a joint statement with Greenland’s top politicians, Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
It comes after the US commander-in-chief said on Friday he was “going to do something about Greenland, whether they like it or not.”
Faced with Trump’s insistence that Greenland is a “national security priority”, Nielsen said, “Greenland’s future must be decided by the people of Greenland.”
He added, “As leaders of the Greenlandic party, we would like to once again emphasise our desire that the United States’ contempt for our country end.
“No other country can interfere in this. We have to decide the future of our country ourselves – without pressure to make hasty decisions, without delay, and without interference from other countries.”
ice-cold
Trump tells Denmark on Greenland: ‘We can do it the easy way or the hard way.’
Deal or no deal?
Greenlanders reveal what they really think about Trump’s plan
Trump said the US needs the strategically important island; otherwise, ‘Russia or China will take it over.’
He said, “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.
“Because if we don’t do that, Russia or China will take over Greenland – and we won’t have Russia or China as our neighbours.”
The President said, “I would like to make a deal the easy way. However, if we choose not to take the easy route, we will have to confront the challenges head-on.”
Trump has repeatedly made it clear in recent days that he wants Greenland for the U.S. — saying he needs the Danish island “from a national security standpoint”.
Speaking on Friday, he said, “I’m a fan of Denmark…but, you know, the fact that they had a boat land 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own that land.”
The threat comes despite Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that any US military move on Greenland would signal “the end of the NATO alliance”.
Trump replied, “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have NATO right now.”
It follows reports that Trump is considering sending a $100,000 lump sum to Greenlanders.
US officials have reportedly discussed paying between $10,000 (£7,443) and $100,000 (£74,437) to try to lure the islanders to freedom.
This sensational proposal will cost the US $5.7 billion to win over the local people.
Washington is “actively” discussing a possible proposal to buy the semi-autonomous Danish territory, and this is one of the solutions under consideration.
Trump said he wants the islands, but he wants the land regardless.
He has refused military action on the island.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US lawmakers that Dawn was looking for a peaceful way to take over the island – and reduce the threat of invasion.
Rubio is scheduled to meet with Danish officials next week to discuss the future of the island.
Danish politicians are now clamouring for help and have urged their European counterparts to provide military support.
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark have all united to support the Danish autonomous region.
Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov said Copenhagen should welcome Allied troops “if the cost of a military invasion would be too high for the Americans”.
“We must make it clear that this will be an armed conflict,” said leftist leader Pelle Dragstad.
He warned that Trump should never be allowed to “just land a helicopter in Nuuk and fly the American flag.”
Denmark confirmed that it would “shoot first and ask questions later.”. If Trump invaded Greenland,
The strict commitment is part of Copenhagen’s military constitution – and it states that soldiers must open fire “immediately” in the event of an attack.
We’re going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not
donald trump
A 1952 rule says soldiers must defend against attackers without waiting for orders – Copenhagen said the law “remains in force.”.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base on the northwestern tip of Greenland.
The US has operated the facility since World War II.
Under existing agreements with Denmark, the US is empowered to bring as many troops as it wants to Greenland.
Experts have said it would be worryingly easy for the US to capture the strategically important Arctic island.
US Vice President JD Vance has warned European leaders to “take on the president of the United States of America seriously”.
The majority of the island’s 57,000-strong population wants Greenland to eventually become an independent nation.
And 85 per cent of people surveyed last year refused to become a part of America.
Polling also shows that only 7 per cent support the idea of a US military invasion of American territory.
Four ways Trump could take Greenland
By Harvey Geh
Here are four ways Donald Trump could take over Greenland.
- Attack: Trump would have no problem using the world’s strongest military to occupy a poorly defended target like Greenland. Denmark could also surrender before the battle to avoid the risk of complete collapse of NATO. But any attack would still be vulnerable to several problems, including extreme weather conditions and long supply lines.
- Pressure: The threat of military intervention alone may be enough to force Copenhagen to capitulate and cede the important island. But aside from imminent threats, Trump could buy Greenland outright from the Danes. Previous US administrations have tried this at least three times in the past, the first instance dating back to 1867.
- Free association: Washington is reportedly already working on plans to sign an “agreement of free association” with Greenland. The deal would mirror the US’s existing arrangements with countries such as Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. In these relationships, the US military has free rein over these areas in exchange for duty-free trade. However, achieving such an agreement would require Greenland to first gain independence from Denmark.
- By prolonging the status quo, Greenland could benefit from the influences of both Denmark and Trump without actually gaining independence or becoming subservient to the US. If Washington agrees to a stronger military presence and mineral-mining contracts on the island, they may call off further plans to take it over completely.
