Danish PM tells Trump it is up to Greenland to decide on independence

Summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries in Helsinki

Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen gives a statement ahead of a Summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on January 14, 2025. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS

Source: Lehtikuva

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday she had spoken on the phone with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and told him that it is up to Greenland itself to decide on any independence.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, said last week that U.S. control of Greenland was an "absolute necessity" and did not rule out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to make it happen.

"In the conversation, the prime minister referred to the statements of the Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament, Mute B. Egede, that Greenland is not for sale," Frederiksen's office said in a statement.

"The prime minister emphasised that it is up to Greenland itself to make a decision on independence," the statement said.

Frederiksen also emphasised the importance of strengthening security in the Arctic and that Denmark was open to taking a greater responsibility, it added.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters