Trump says US ‘needs’ Greenland as Denmark PM urges president to cease threats | EUROtoday

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to stop threats over Greenland, after he reiterated his want to amass it in The Atlantic journal.

“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the U.S. needing to take over Greenland. The U.S. has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom,” Frederiksen mentioned in a press release on Sunday. Trump informed the journal: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”

He spoke a day after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the president mentioned Washington would run the Latin American nation.

This raised considerations in Denmark that the identical might occur with Greenland, a Danish territory.

Frederiksen mentioned: “I would therefore strongly urge the U.S. 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.”

The Greenlandic prime minister’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark outdoors common workplace hours.

Trump on December 21 named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as particular envoy to Greenland, drawing renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Washington’s curiosity within the mineral-rich Arctic island.

Trump has advocated for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, to grow to be a part of the United States. Landry publicly helps the concept.

The Arctic island’s strategic place between Europe and North America makes it a key website for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system, whereas its mineral wealth is enticing because the U.S. hopes to scale back its reliance on Chinese exports.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, has the precise to declare independence below a 2009 settlement however relies upon closely on Danish subsidies.

Denmark has sought to restore strained ties with Greenland over the previous 12 months, whereas additionally attempting to ease tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic defence.