Greenland’s prime minister calls for calm after Trump comments

Greenland's Prime Minister has called for unity, urging citizens to remain calm, amid a growing diplomatic conflict between the US and Denmark following Donald Trump's interest in acquiring control of the territory.

Mute Egede stated that he comprehends concerns might be prevalent after the incoming US president refused to rule out the use of military and economic strength to take control of Greenland. He urged his fellow citizens to "put aside differences and stand together."

His government issued a statement on Wednesday night reasserting Greenland's right to self-determination, stating it "looks forward to establishing contact" with the Trump administration.

The statement, issued by the state minister for home and foreign affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt, pointed out that the government acknowledged Greenland's "decisive and significant contribution to US national security", which is why, it stated, a US military base is located there.

It added: "Greenland looks forward to co-operating with the incoming US administration and other Nato allies to ensure security and stability in the Arctic region."

He also suggested that he intended to use "economic power" to get Canada to join the US, causing an international stir.

The US military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik airbase in north-west Greenland. North-west Greenland is of great strategic importance to the US military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America passes through the island.

On Thursday, the US embassy in Copenhagen stated that the US has no intention of increasing its military presence in Greenland.

Greenland was once a Danish colony and is at present still a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with Denmark maintaining control over its foreign and security affairs.

Prior to Trump's intervention, a movement in favour of independence from Denmark had been gaining momentum in Greenland. Egede, who is in favour of independence, had made the case in his new year speech that his island should break free from "the shackles of colonialism" in order to shape its own future, stating that after the upcoming election, there must be "major steps" towards "creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state".

In order to become an independent state, a 2009 agreement with Denmark stipulates that there must be a successful referendum in Greenland.

In order to achieve independence from Denmark, the Greenlandic government’s statement indicated a willingness to engage in greater and more constructive collaboration with our nearest neighbours.

The government stated: “Greenland looks forward to exploring opportunities for business cooperation, the development of Greenland’s mineral sector, including critical minerals and other relevant areas with the US.”

Speaking to journalists, Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged that Denmark had "over the years overlooked to make the essential investments in ships and aircraft that would enable us to keep a close eye on our kingdom, and that is something we are now making a conscious effort to rectify."

On Thursday morning, the Kremlin's press spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said: “We're following very closely the increasingly serious turn of events surrounding this development, which is, thank goodness, at the moment just statements level, rather than any actual actions.”

We are keen on maintaining peace and stability in this area and are prepared to collaborate with all parties in achieving this peace and stability.

Egede was in Copenhagen on Thursday, following a meeting with the Danish monarch on the Wednesday. On Thursday he attended an annual New Year's reception. He also has a meeting of the foreign, security and defence policy contact committee due this week, covering Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

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“We must also bear in mind that we have international partnerships and agreements that we rely on and need to continue strengthening, which also encompasses our relationship with the United States to a great extent. We are allies, and that serves as the foundation for our interactions.”

Elections are due to be held in Greenland in the coming months, by 6 April at the latest. In light of this and the wider international context, Egede called for unity, saying: “Even though we would like to show differences between the parties, I would like to appeal that we stand together for our country and our future and not panic because of the situation that has arisen.”

At a new year's reception in Copenhagen on Thursday, he said that "Greenland is entering a new era, and a new year in which Greenland has been at the centre of attention worldwide.

Egede added: "The Greenlandic people are one people, regardless of where on the island they reside. As a people, we must be united in this present time. We must be prepared for a new future that we are on our way towards."

In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday night that she had met Egede earlier in the day and had had a phone conversation with several European leaders. "You can be certain that we, as a government, are taking all possible measures to protect Denmark's – and the Commonwealth's – interests," she stated on Instagram. The US, she mentioned, was Denmark's closest ally.

Late on Thursday, she mentioned that she had requested a meeting with Trump, however, she had not expected one before his inauguration.

She stated that, in a world that is becoming increasingly turbulent, the growing significance of the North Atlantic makes it necessary for allies to work more closely together, including within Nato.

It has been reported that Frederiksen has requested a meeting with party leaders for Thursday evening in order to discuss the current situation.

Her Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has stated that he thinks Denmark should hold off until Mr Trump enters office before acting on his remarks about Greenland.