Denmark's PM Asserts Greenland's Right to Self-Determination in Call with Trump

In a direct response to President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen emphasized Greenland’s autonomy and right to self-determination during a significant phone call.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently held an important phone conversation with President-elect Donald Trump, during which she firmly stated that the future of Greenland is ultimately up to its own people. This follows Trump's earlier provocative remarks hinting at a desire to purchase the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

During the 45-minute call, Frederiksen reassured Trump of Denmark's commitment to bolstering security in the Arctic while echoing Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has made it clear that Greenland is "not for sale." Although Trump has yet to publicly respond to Frederiksen’s statements, he shared a poll on social media suggesting that a significant majority of Greenlanders (68%) favor independence from Denmark, fostering speculation about a potential referendum on the matter.

Historically, Trump's prior interest in buying Greenland led to a diplomatic rift when Frederiksen labeled the idea as "absurd", prompting him to cancel a planned trip to Denmark. In this latest communication, Frederiksen also pointed out the value of Danish businesses to the American economy, reinforcing the importance of US-Danish trade relations.

Trump's threatening remarks about imposing high tariffs on Denmark if it did not comply with his Greenland ambitions have rattled Danish industry, as the United States stands as Denmark’s second-largest export market. Following this, Frederiksen has scheduled a series of meetings with prominent business leaders, including the heads of Carlsberg and Novo Nordisk, while convening the Foreign Policy Council to discuss strategies moving forward.

Greenland's political figures, including member of parliament Aaja Chemnitz, praised Fredericksen's insistence that decisions regarding Greenland's future belong to Greenlanders, demonstrating a political consensus on the matter. However, there are dissenting voices, such as opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov, who criticized Frederiksen for seemingly yielding Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland in her discussions with Trump.

The situation remains a sensitive topic, with rising concerns among Danes about the ramifications of Trump's continued interest in Greenland. Observers, including Hans Redder, TV2's political editor, have noted that Trump's extended interest in the territory signifies a genuine concern that may persist beyond mere political banter.