Greenland’s PM says island cannot be bought and US showing disrespect

Jens-Frederik Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategic territory

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, right, and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during their meeting in Denmark on Sunday (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

New Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday that US statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone”.

Mr Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategic territory as he stood side by side with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the second day of a three-day official visit. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

“The talks from the United States have not been respectful,” Mr Nielsen said at a news conference at the prime minister’s Marienborg official residence in Lyngby, 12km north of Copenhagen.

“The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together,” he added.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, left, and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during Mr Neilsen’s visit (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Political parties in Greenland, which has been leaning toward eventual independence from Denmark for years, recently agreed to form a broad-based new coalition government in the face of Mr Trump’s designs on the territory.

Greenland’s government said Mr Nielsen’s three-day visit, which began on Saturday, was aimed at future co-operation between the two countries.

“Denmark has the will to invest in the Greenlandic society, and we don’t just have that for historical reasons. We also have that because we are part of (the Danish) commonwealth with each other,” said Ms Frederiksen.

“We of course have a will to also continue investing in the Greenlandic society,” she added.

Mr Nielsen is set to meet King Frederik X on Monday, before returning to Greenland with Frederik for a royal visit to the island.

Ms Frederiksen and Mr Nielsen were asked whether a meeting between them and Mr Trump was being planned.

“We always want to meet with the American president,” Ms Frederiksen said. “Of course we want to. But I think we have been very, very clear in what is the (Danish commonwealth’s) approach to all parts of the kingdom of Denmark.”