Greenland’s Independence: Trump Threats Fuel Anti-American Sentiment
Greenlanders don’t want to be Americans and insist on deciding their own future, politicians in the self-governing Danish territory said Friday, responding to Donald Trump‘s warning that the US “will do something whether they like it or not.”
Leaders from five Greenlandic political parties issued a joint statement shortly after Trump reiterated his threats to acquire the mineral-rich island.
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the statement read. it included the voices of Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and previous leaders Múte B Egede, Pele Broberg, Aleqa Hammond, and Aqqalu C Jerimiassen.
The leaders emphasized Greenland’s desire for self-determination. “No other country can meddle in this. We must decide our country’s future ourselves - without pressure to make a hasty decision, without procrastination, and without interference from other countries,” they said.
Trump, speaking at a white House meeting with oil and gas executives, claimed Greenland is vital to US national security. “We’re not going to have Russia or china occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” he told reporters.
The White House confirmed earlier this week that Trump is “actively” discussing a potential purchase of the island with his national security team.
Greenlanders have consistently rejected the idea of becoming part of the US. A recent poll showed 85% of the population opposes joining the United States.