‘That’s enough’: Greenland PM urges Trump to drop annex threats
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — President Donald Trump’s call for Greenland to become part of the United States (US) drew international condemnation on Monday, with the autonomous Danish territory’s prime minister warning: “That’s enough now.”
Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears about Greenland, the mineral-rich Arctic territory which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to annex.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One late on Sunday.
The island has untapped rare earth minerals and could be a vital player as the polar ice melts and new shipping routes emerge.
Greenland is also on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States, and Washington already has a military base there.
“We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months,” continued Trump. “Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen took to social media to tell the US leader: “That’s enough now. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation.”
“We are open to dialogue,” he said. “We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also urged the United States to stop threatening its traditional ally over the weekend, and on Monday, several European countries and the EU rushed to the support of Copenhagen.
