Credit: AP
Greenland's political leaders have issued a joint statement condemning President Donald Trump's suggestion that the US could annex the island.
Trump has, on multiple occasions, proposed the idea of the US buying Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark but is largely autonomous and holds its own parliamentary elections.
The US president has repeatedly insisted the US needs Greenland for "international security", and during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, he said: "I think it will happen."
Rutte did not comment directly on Trump’s statement, saying he did not “want to drag Nato” into the issue, but acknowledged the importance of maintaining security in the Arctic region.
In response, five of Greenland's political leaders: Jens Frederik Nielsen of the Democracy party, Pele Broberg of Naleraql, Múte B. Egede of Inuit Ataqatigiitl, Vivian Motzfeldt of Siumut and Aqqalu C. Jeremiassen of Atassut issued a joint statement on Friday.
"We - all party chairmen - cannot accept the repeated statements about annexation and control of Greenland," the leaders wrote.
"As party chairmen, we find this behaviour unacceptable towards friends and allies in a defence alliance.
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"We, as the leaders of all parties in Inatsisartut in Greenland, must emphasize that Greenland continues the work for Greenland, which is already underway through diplomatic channels in accordance with international laws and regulations.
"We all stand behind this effort and strongly oppose attempts to create discord. Greenland is one country, which everyone will stand behind."
Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, said on Thursday that he would summon party leaders to strengthen their rejection of Trump's plan.
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Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the island’s pro-business Demokraatit party – which won Greenland’s closely-watched parliamentary election Tuesday – also rejected the comments.“Trump’s statement from the US is inappropriate and just shows once again that we must stand together in such situations,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook.
Greenland’s election this week followed a race dominated both by Trump’s annexation threat and growing calls from residents for independence from Denmark.All dominant parties in Greenland’s parliament have said they do not want the territory to become part of the United States.
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Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance.
Then, in 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law.
Denmark still controls security, defence, foreign and monetary policy, while Greenland also benefits from Denmark’s European Union and NATO memberships.Trump’s idea to annex the territory threw an international spotlight onto the territory’s election and has raised questions about its security as the United States, Russia and China vie for influence in the Arctic.
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