Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has firmly rejected the notion of the island being sold, following comments from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggesting that the United States should own and control the Arctic territory.
"Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom," Egede declared in a written statement, reinforcing Greenland's position as a semi-autonomous region under Denmark’s sovereignty for over six centuries.
Trump reignited the debate over Greenland's status on Sunday while announcing Ken Howery, a former U.S. ambassador to Sweden, as his pick for envoy to Copenhagen. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Although Trump did not provide further details, his statement recalls his 2019 proposition to purchase Greenland during his first term. The idea, met with swift rejection from both Denmark and Greenland’s local government, was widely mocked and seen as emblematic of Trump’s unconventional approach to global diplomacy.
The Danish Prime Minister at the time, Mette Frederiksen, had dismissed Trump’s original proposal as “absurd,” prompting a diplomatic rift. Trump retaliated by labeling Frederiksen “nasty” and canceling a planned state visit to Copenhagen.
Egede’s recent statement underscores Greenland’s commitment to its autonomy and rebuffs any attempts to revisit the matter.
Greenland holds significant geopolitical value due to its location in the Arctic and its hosting of the Pituffik (Thule) U.S. Space Base, a key military asset. However, both Denmark and Greenland maintain that the territory is not for sale, despite its strategic significance.
In a related move, Trump also hinted at reasserting U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of imposing excessive fees for its use. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded sharply, condemning the remarks as unwarranted interference.
As Trump prepares to take office in January, these developments signal a potential return to his unpredictable and controversial foreign policy approach, raising concerns among international allies and critics alike.
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