Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Monday that the country would like to work more closely with the US on defence and mining ties but on their own terms.
Following a renewed interest being shown by the US President-elect Donald Trump to acquire the Arctic island Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory, the Republican leader described it as “absolute necessity” due to its strategical importance and mineral rich land.
Trump, who is all set to take the office on January 20, had floated the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term. Greenland’s PM Egede has said that his government is looking for ways to work with the incoming president.
While interacting with the media on Monday in Nuuk, Egede was asked about US military’s expansion in the vast Arctic island, to which he replied “Greenland’s independence is Greenland’s business, also in relation to the use of its land, so it is also Greenland that will decide what agreement we should come to.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Monday stated that it was ready to continue talks with the incoming Trump administration “to ensure legitimate American interests” in the Arctic.
Greenland lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe, and hence plays a significant role due to its geographical location.
PM Egede has called an all party meeting Nuuk to discuss the possibilities of the US interest in the island and have a collective approach towards it.
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“This is the first time Greenland has been listened to in an intense way. We need to be calm and take advantage of things and stand together,” PM Egede said.
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