Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that Greenland can never be bought like a piece of property. Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of US President Donald Trump's stated interest in taking control of the strategic territory.
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New Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated on Sunday that US comments regarding the mineral-rich Arctic island had been disrespectful, emphasising that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.”
His comments came after a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at her official residence on Sunday, on the second day of a three-day official visit.
Nielsen's remarks were in response to US President Donald Trump’s repeated state interest in taking control of the mineral-rich Arctic island.
During the press conference, Nielsen said "the talk from the United States have not been respectful.”
He continued, “the words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together.”
Greenlandic political parties, which have been advocating for eventual independence from Denmark for years, recently formed a broad-based coalition government in response to Trump’s ambitions regarding the territory.
The Greenlandic government stated that Nielsen’s three-day visit, which began on Saturday, was aimed at fostering future cooperation between the two nations.
“Denmark has the will to invest in Greenlandic society, and we don’t just have that for historical reasons. We also have that because we are part of (the Danish) commonwealth with each other,” said Frederiksen.
“We of course have a will to also continue investing in Greenlandic society,” she continued.
Nielsen is scheduled to meet King Frederik X on Monday, before returning to Greenland with Frederiksen for a royal visit to the island.
When asked whether a meeting between them and Trump was in the works, Frederiksen responded, "We always want to meet with the American president. Of course we want to. But I think we have been very, very clear in what is the (Danish commonwealth’s) approach to all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark."
Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark.