We choose Denmark over US, says Greenland PM Nielsen
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left) and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference in Copenhagen on Jan 13.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
COPENHAGEN - Greenland’s Prime Minister said Jan 13 that the autonomous territory would choose to remain Danish rather than become part of the United States, following US President Donald Trump’s
threats to take over the Arctic island
.“We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a press conference in Copenhagen.
has been talking up the idea of buying or annexing the Arctic territory
for years, and further stoked tensions on Jan 11 by saying that the United States would take the territory “one way or the other”.“One thing must be clear to everyone, Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States,” Mr Nielsen said.
He was speaking alongside Danish leader Mette Frederiksen, who said it had not been easy to stand up to what she slammed as “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally”.
“However, there are many indications that the most challenging part is ahead of us,” Ms Frederiksen said.
Mr Trump has insisted the US needs Greenland for “national security”.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
World
Trump vows ‘very strong action’ if Iran hangs protesters
Opinion
Trump’s Godfather plan for Greenland may be falling into place
Opinion
How you gain if doctors can call up all your health records
Singapore
Police to apply to distribute $1.5m in seized assets to claimants in Genneva gold scam: Shanmugam
Asia
Singapore PR pleads guilty to displaying false licence plate after RON95 petrol incident goes viral
World
Scott Adams, creator of the satirical Dilbert comic strip, dies at 68
Business
Singapore too pricey, dull for tourists? Not true: Marriott regional boss
Ms Frederiksen stressed that “of course, we want to strengthen cooperation on security in the Arctic with the United States, with NATO, with Europe and with the Arctic states in NATO”.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt
are due to meet with US Vice-President J.D. Vance
and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Jan 14. AFP
