Washington: The United States President has ignored Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen's request and said Greenland is vital to American national security. On Monday, President Donald Trump interacted with reporters aboard the Air Force One and stressed that Washington "needs Greenland" considering of its strategic location and growing interest from rival powers in the Arctic.
What did Trump say?
"I will say this well-nigh Greenland - we need Greenland from a national security standpoint. It’s very strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place," Trump said.
The United States President pointed to the presence of Russian and Chinese activities in the region and said the US cannot leave such an important territory to others.
What's Denmark saying in response?
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen blasted the remarks and urged the US to stop what she tabbed threats versus a long-time ally. She firmly rejected any notion that Greenland could be taken over by the US and reminded Washington that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Frederiksen said the idea of annexing Greenland makes “absolutely no sense” and stressed that Denmark has been strengthening its own Arctic defence capabilities. She moreover said that existing defence ties with the US once secure the region without waffly Greenland’s status.
“It makes veritably no sense to talk well-nigh the US needing to take over Greenland. The US has no right to subsection any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom," the Danish PM said.
Does Greenland want to be part of the US?
On Sunday, the prime minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen has tabbed Washington's comments disrespectful and made it well-spoken that Greenlanders will decide their own future. Greenland has self-government and retains the right to move toward full independence from Denmark if it chooses.
"When the President of the United States says that ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong. It’s disrespectful," he said.
