Trouble on the island

Trump: Annexation of Greenland “will probably happen”

US President Donald Trump is not letting go of Greenland. The island people have had enough.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/JOHN SONNTAG/NASA/AFP, AFP)

US President Donald Trump has been talking for months about wanting to take control of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. At a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the White House on Thursday, he said in response to a reporter's question about his plans for a possible annexation: "Well, I think it will happen." The head of Greenland's government countered: "Enough is enough!"

In a Facebook post, the politician Múte B. Egede writes: "Now the US president has once again expressed the idea of annexing us. In a way, I cannot accept this. I respect the result of the election, but I believe that I have an obligation as President of the Greenlandic government."

"This time we must intensify our rejection of Trump," he emphasizes. "We must not allow ourselves to continue to be treated with disrespect. Enough is enough."

Egede also announced that he would convene the other party leaders as soon as possible.

"Statement inappropriate!"
His possible successor as head of government, Liberal Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also rejected the US President's comments. "Trump's statement in the US is inappropriate and only shows once again that we must stand together in such situations."

Video: US President Donald Trump threatens, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte laughs

"Greenland is not for sale"
The election manifesto of Nielsen's Demokraatit party stated: "Greenland is not for sale. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever."

Hintergrund

Was steckt hinter Trumps Aussagen?

Trump has been talking about wanting to take control of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, for months. At a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the White House (see video above, note) on Thursday, he said in response to a reporter's question about his plans for a possible annexation: "Well, I think it's going to happen." Trump emphasized the great strategic importance of the island and that Denmark is very far away.

A survey has shown that a clear majority of the island's citizens do not want to become part of the USA. Virtually no one in Greenlandic politics is in agreement with the island becoming a US territory either.