COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Monday the country wants to strengthen its defense and mining ties with the United States, albeit on its own terms, after renewed interest from newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, last week returned to an idea floated during his first term to acquire the strategically important and mineral-rich Arctic island, describing US control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, as an ‘absolute necessity’.
Egede said his government was looking for ways to work with the United States and that it was ready to start a dialogue with the new Trump administration, but stressed that it was up to it to decide how to proceed.
When asked at a press conference in Nuuk on Monday about the expansion of US military capabilities on the vast Arctic island, Egede said: “Greenland’s independence is Greenland’s business, also with regard to the use of its land, so it it is also Greenland that will decide what agreement we should reach.”
Egede has called on the leaders of Greenland’s political parties to a meeting in the capital Nuuk to discuss a collective approach to US interests.
“This is the first time that Greenland is being listened to in an intense way. We must be calm, take advantage of things and stand strong together,” he said.
While Trump last week did not rule out the possible use of military or economic means to gain control of Greenland, newly elected US Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Fox News on Sunday, rejected the use of military force, even as he emphasized it strategic importance of Greenland. and its rich resources.
“It was concerning when we first heard it. But the vice president said yesterday that they have no interest in using weapons. Our interest lies in cooperation,” said Egede.
