Greenland’s major political parties have issued a joint statement to condemn Donald Trump’s “unacceptable behaviour” after it appeared to escalate the US president’s campaign to take over the island.
In the show of unity, leaders of all parties in Inatsat – Congress – published a joint message that “we cannot accept repeated statements about the annexation and control of Greenland.”
It followed a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Latte on Thursday, where the president appears to have doubled his plans for annexation.
The Greenland joint statement was coordinated by resigning Prime Minister Mute Bege, who lost the party in Tuesday’s election.
“Our country is never America, and we, the Greenlanders, will never become Americans,” Egede wrote on Facebook. “Don’t keep treating us rudely. Enough is enough.”
Greenland – the world’s largest island between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans – has been ruled by approximately 3,000 km (1,860 miles) of Denmark for about 300 years.
While Greenland governs its own domestic issues, decisions on foreign and defence policies will be made in Copenhagen.
The United States has long been bringing security benefits to the island. It has had military bases there since World War II, and Trump is also keen on rare earth minerals that could possibly be mined.
Although Greenland had already kept up to Trump’s annexation talk, his comments to Latte at the White House sent more shockwaves when he hinted that he needed NATO help to grab the island.
“You know, Mark, we need it for international security… We have to be careful as many of our favourite players are cruised around the coast,” Trump said.
“We’ll talk to you,” he added.
When asked about the outlook for annexation, Trump said: “I think it will happen.”
Latte has been criticized for not rebeling Trump in both Greenland and Denmark. Instead, he said he would leave it. [issue] Outside… I don’t want to drag NATO into it.”
He then sought praise – something that some world leaders used when dealing with Donald Trump – he said he had to keep the Arctic safe.
A joint statement from Greenland politicians emphasized that they are united in their pushback to Trump’s plans.
“Greenland continues to work in Greenland,” the statement said.
“We all stand behind this effort and are firmly distant from attempts to create discord.”
Their decision came three days after the election, with the central opposition – the Democrats – winning a surprising victory.
Jens Frederick Nielsen, the leader of Jens Frederick Nielsen, who is likely to be Greenland’s new prime minister, is currently negotiating with other parties to form a coalition.
