Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has firmly dismissed remarks from US President-elect Donald Trump suggesting that Washington could purchase the Danish territory for “national security” reasons.
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” Egede declared in a statement on Monday, reinforcing the island’s autonomy and Danish ties.
Trump’s comments came on Sunday during an announcement of Washington’s new ambassador to Denmark. The president-elect asserted that US ownership of Greenland was essential for “National Security and Freedom throughout the World.”
The Danish government also responded to the remarks, reiterating Greenland’s status. “In a complex geopolitical climate, transatlantic cooperation remains vital. However, Greenland is not for sale,” stated Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s office.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is an autonomous territory of Denmark with its own parliament and a population of about 55,000.
This is not the first time Trump has shown interest in the territory. In 2019, he canceled a visit to Denmark after similar comments about Greenland’s sale were rebuffed.
