We choose Denmark, Greenland pushes back against Trump

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Copenhagen [Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters]

Jens Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s prime minister, has said the self-governed Arctic territory wants to remain part of Denmark and has no interest in joining the United States, as President Donald Trump renews his push to take control of the island.

Speaking at a news conference in Copenhagen alongside Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s prime minister, Nielsen said Greenland faced a moment of intense global pressure, but its choice was clear.

Read also: Trump keeps military option open as allies rally behind Denmark over Greenland

“We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” Nielsen said.

His comments came a day after Greenland’s government rejected Trump’s latest threats, insisting that any attempt to seize the island was unacceptable.

“The United States has once again reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something that the governing coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstance,” the coalition government said in a statement.

Read also: Greenland says that is enough as Trump revives annexation idea

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Danish commonwealth and a member of NATO through Denmark. The government said its security must be handled within that framework.

“As part of the Danish commonwealth, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through NATO,” the statement added.

Frederiksen said Denmark had been forced to stand firm against pressure from Washington. “It has not been easy to stand up to what I see as completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally,” she said.

Trump has repeatedly insisted the United States will take control of Greenland, saying it will happen “one way or another”. His remarks have alarmed European allies and triggered warnings that any forced takeover would seriously damage relations between the United States and Europe, while also deepening strains inside NATO.

Read also: From Japa to Udvandre: Should Nigerians be looking all the way to Greenland?

Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic politician in the Danish parliament, said Trump’s comments run against the wishes of most people on the island, which has a population of about 56,000.

“Greenland is not for sale, and Greenland will never be for sale,” Chemnitz, from the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, told Al Jazeera.

“People seem to think they can buy the Greenlandic soul. It is our identity, our language, our culture. It would look completely different if you became an American citizen, and that is not something a majority in Greenland want.”

Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.

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