Denmark’s foreign minister stated on Wednesday that it was noteworthy for U.S. President Donald Trump to acknowledge Greenland’s right to self-determination while expressing interest in acquiring the island during his congressional address.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Trump depicted a vision of prosperity and security for the residents of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which he has expressed a desire to incorporate into the United States.
Surveys indicate that a majority of Greenlanders are against joining the U.S., although many support the idea of eventually gaining independence from Denmark. The Danish government has emphasized that the future of the Arctic island is for its inhabitants to determine and is not available for sale.
“(Trump) mentioned (their) respect for Greenlandic self-determination, which I believe was the most crucial aspect of that speech,” Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen remarked at a press conference in Helsinki on Wednesday.
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Lokke Rasmussen noted that Denmark and Greenland share common interests with the United States regarding Arctic security.
“We are prepared to collaborate with our American partners to achieve that, but it must be grounded in the understanding that we are part of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he added.
