- OSLO —
Denmark has strongly opposed US President Donald Trump's renewed push for
Greenland to join the US, following his remarks during a joint session of
Congress two days ago.
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- Trump declared on Wednesday that his administration would
"strongly support" Greenlanders' "right to determine" their
future, adding: "And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States
of America."
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- Acknowledging the uncertainty sparked by Trump's statements,
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed Denmark's position on
Wednesday, emphasising that Greenland's future is solely for its people to
decide.
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- "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. This is a
position that we very strongly support from the Danish government," she
said.
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- Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede firmly rejected
Trump's claim, saying on social media that Greenlanders have no desire to
become part of the US.
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- Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen echoed these
sentiments, stressing that Greenland will never be part of the US.
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- "It is not, and it will never be, the case that the
United States can dictate and get a part of the Danish Kingdom," he said.
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- Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of
around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part
of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship.
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- In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater
self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defence
policy.
