According to Axios, Denmark has contacted President-elect Donald Trump’s staff to discuss a possible expansion of the US military presence in Greenland.
According to insider sources, Copenhagen has also expressed a desire to avoid public conflict with Trump and sought clarification on his recent statements that Greenland should belong to the US.
Trump recently attracted attention when he suggested that the US should acquire the self-governing Arctic island from Denmark. He described the ownership of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for US national security and would not rule out the use of military and economic pressure against Denmark to enforce his demands. However, the actual details of how his administration would try to convince Denmark to cede control of Greenland are scarce.
The Danish government has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale, but according to Axios, it has also signaled a willingness “to discuss any other US request regarding the island”.
The US has had a military presence in Greenland since World War II and still operates a military base in the northwestern part of the island under a defense agreement with Denmark. The agreement also allows the US to establish additional military facilities, and during the Cold War the island was an important location for US infrastructure to provide early warning of incoming ballistic missiles.
“For the the Greenlandic people”
Both Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leader Mute Egede have expressed opposition to Trump’s idea of buying the island. At the same time, Denmark’s Prime Minister confirmed earlier this week that she proposed negotiations with Trump’s staff with the aim of “strengthening the security of the Western alliance”.
Egede, in turn, has stressed Greenland’s commitment to independence but opened up to continued cooperation with the US.
– Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American, he stated at a recent press conference, but also promised that the island will continue to cooperate with the US on security issues.