Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has reiterated that the island nation is not for sale, in response to the claims of former US President Donald Trump. In an interview with the German magazine Spiegel, Nielsen emphasized that Greenland is not an immovable asset and that it is open to business and cooperation with all members of the Western alliance, but on its own terms.
The prime minister acknowledged that many people in Greenland are concerned about the future and one of his main priorities is to reassure them that the country will do everything in its power to protect its sovereignty. This sentiment was echoed in a recent protest in the capital city of Nuuk, where over 1,000 people gathered to express their opposition to Trump’s annexation claims.
Nielsen’s party, the Demokraatit, has declared independence from Denmark as its ultimate goal and the prime minister is now working to temper the impression of closeness with the Danish government, which he recently received with a visit from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and King Frederik X.
Nielsen emphasized the need for greater equality in the country’s relationships with Denmark, including not only apologies for historical colonial-era wrongdoings but also increased economic investment. The new prime minister is focused on developing the tourism, renewable energy and mining sectors to reduce the country’s dependence on the fishing industry and to achieve this, he believes that partnerships and investors from Europe will be crucial.
In the long term, Nielsen’s goal is to achieve independence not only from Denmark but also from the United States and he is committed to working towards this objective while maintaining the country’s sovereignty and autonomy.