Axios: Denmark has sent private messages to Trump about Greenland

According to Isna, the recent hints of Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, to control Greenland were practically a threat to attack an old NATO ally. These statements 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 control of Greenland – the world’s largest island – is essential 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 government wants to convince Trump, including through messages sent 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 country Trump would pick a fight with.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and his Greenlandic counterpart 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 president-elect. Egid, the defender of Esteghlal, said in this press conference: Greenland is for the people of Greenland. We don’t want to be Danish, we don’t want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.

Sources said the Danish government wanted to avoid a public clash with the new US administration and asked members of Trump’s team to explain what the president-elect meant. In messages sent to the Trump team, the Danish government 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 agreement 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 investment in Greenland’s military infrastructure and capabilities in consultation with the Greenlandic government.

Greenland played a key role in NATO and US defense during the Cold War as part of an early warning system to detect potential Soviet submarines or missiles. As new sea lanes open up as the Arctic climate changes, Greenland’s geography becomes more important. 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 Anthony Blinken downplayed Trump’s statements and said that there is no point in wasting time on them. “It’s not a good idea and it’s not going to happen,” Blinken said. “But Trump’s continued statements 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 content to settle with Denmark and claim victory, or whether his real mission is to become the first president in 80 years to win new territory for the United States.

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