Axios: Denmark has se private messages to Trump about Greenland
Two sources told Axios that Denmark has se private messages to Preside-elect Trump’s team in rece days expressing its willingness to discuss strengthening security in Greenland or increasing the US military presence on the island.
According to Isna, the rece his of Donald Trump, the preside-elect of the United States, to corol Greenland were practically a threat to attack an old NATO ally. These statemes surprised Copenhagen and many other European capitals.
Greenland (population 56,000) is largely autonomous, but Denmark is responsible for its defense. Trump has repeatedly stated that corol of Greenland – the world’s largest island – is esseial to US national security against Russia and China. His son Junior also traveled to Greenland during the past days.
Climate change has made the Arctic a hotbed of competition between superpowers and could also make it easier to exploit Greenland’s mineral wealth.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Danish governme was to convince Trump, including through messages se to his advisers, that his security concerns can be addressed without the US claiming ownership of Greenland.
A European diplomat told Axios that Denmark is widely regarded as one of the US’s closest allies in the European Union, and no one would have guessed that it would be the first coury Trump would pick a fight with.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and his Greenlandic couerpart Mott Egged met in Copenhagen on Friday to discuss the situation. In a press conference after the meeting, Fredriksen said that he had asked to meet with Trump. Egid said he is also ready to talk to the preside-elect. Egid, the defender of Esteghlal, said in this press conference: Greenland is for the people of Greenland. We don’t wa to be Danish, we don’t wa to be American. We wa to be Greenlandic.
Greenland Island
Sources said the Danish governme waed to avoid a public clash with the new US administration and asked members of Trump’s team to explain what the preside-elect mea. In messages se to the Trump team, the Danish governme has made clear that Greenland is not for sale, but is open to discussing any other US requests for the island, the sources said.
The U.S. already has a military base in Greenland and a 1951 agreeme with Denmark on the defense of the island, under which an increase in U.S. forces can easily be discussed. Danish officials have already said they are seeking further steps to increase investme in Greenland’s military infrastructure and capabilities in consultation with the Greenlandic governme.
Greenland played a key role in NATO and US defense during the Cold War as part of an early warning system to detect poteial Soviet submarines or missiles. As new sea lanes open up as the Arctic climate changes, Greenland’s geography becomes more importa. Malt Humpert, founder and senior fellow of the Arctic Institute, believes that if Trump’s real concern is security, there is no reason why the United States cannot simply increase its military presence and capabilities in Greenland under its alliance with Denmark.
US Secretary of State Ahony Blinken downplayed Trump’s statemes and said that there is no poi in wasting time on them. “It’s not a good idea and it’s not going to happen,” Blinken said. “But Trump’s coinued statemes on the matter and his son’s trip mean that the Danish and Greenlandic authorities cannot rule out the possibility that Trump is serious.”
According to Axios, the main question is whether Trump is coe to settle with Denmark and claim victory, or whether his real mission is to become the first preside in 80 years to win new territory for the United States.
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