Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with President-elect Trump following the latter’s recent declaration of interests in the U.S. acquiring Greenland, the world’s largest island. Egede made these remarks during a press conference held in Copenhagen on Friday, in response to queries about communication with the incoming U.S. President. While confirming no direct contact with Trump, Egede stated, “we are ready to talk.”
President-elect Trump has previously asserted that U.S. control over Greenland, an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, is imperative. He has not ruled out the possibility of employing military tactics to secure the island, which boasts a population exceeding 56,000, highlighting its strategic significance for national security. This viewpoint was echoed by Trump’s chosen national security advisor, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.).
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen engaged in discussions with Egede during the Copenhagen meeting, both leaders present at the joint press conference. Frederiksen conveyed her request for a meeting with the incoming U.S. President.
Underlining the autonomy and identity of Greenland, Egede emphasized that “Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.”
Recent reports indicate ongoing communication between Denmark and the Trump administration, with a willingness to explore enhancing security measures or increasing U.S. military presence on the Arctic island. Referring to sources familiar with the matter, Axios reported on Saturday that Denmark had expressed openness to dialogue. The Hill reached out to Trump’s transition team for comment on the reported discussions.
In a separate development earlier in the week, Prime Minister Frederiksen firmly stated that Greenland was not for sale, a response to remarks made by Donald Trump Jr. during his visit to the Arctic island. Trump Jr. was reported to have visited Greenland for a day trip to record video content for a podcast, according to a source acquainted with the situation.
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