'We don't want to be Americans,' say Greenland's PM, leaders as they firmly reject Trump's push to acquire island
In a joint statement, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four major party leaders condemned the American president’s rhetoric. "We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders"
Political leaders in Greenland have issued a resolute and unified rejection of US President Donald Trump's renewed push to acquire the island, asserting that the territory is not for sale and its future belongs solely to its people.
In a joint statement released on 9 January, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four major party leaders condemned the American president's rhetoric. "We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders," the statement read.
The diplomatic standoff intensified after US President Trump reiterated his desire to acquire the island, which is also a semi-autonomous region that's part of a strategic NATO ally, Denmark, reports CBS News.
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'The easy way' or 'the hard way'
Trump framed the potential acquisition as a security necessity, claiming that if the US does not take control, Russia or China will. He further alarmed international observers by suggesting he would pursue the deal "the easy way" or "the hard way," though he did not elaborate on the specific nature of his threats.
The White House has since escalated the rhetoric, stating that a range of options — including the use of military force — is under consideration to secure the island.
This "hard way" approach has met with internal resistance in Washington, with US Senator Rand Paul telling CBS Mornings earlier this week that he "will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland."
Greenland's leaders, however, have not been deterred.
"As Greenlandic party leaders, we would like to emphasize once again our wish that the United States' contempt for our country ends," the statement said, calling for international laws to be respected.
The document was signed by a broad coalition of leaders, including Nielsen, Pele Broberg, Múte B Egede, Aleqa Hammond, and Aqqalu C Jerimiassen.
Meanwhile, the controversy has sent shockwaves through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato). Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any attempt by the US to forcibly take control of Greenland would signal the end of the alliance.
Former Danish ambassador to NATO Michael Zilmer-Johns described the ambitions as an "affront" to an ally that has consistently supported the US in global conflicts from Iraq to Afghanistan.
Despite its status as the world's largest island, Greenland's population is only 57,000, and it possesses no military of its own, relying on Denmark for its defence.
While the Danish military is significantly smaller than that of the US, the geopolitical fallout of an American move against a sovereign ally remains unprecedented in the post-WWII era.
'Tired of the US president'
Public opinion on the island is overwhelmingly against an American takeover. BBC News reports indicate that 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States.
While many Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, they remain wary of trading Danish subsidies and military support for American sovereignty.
Potter Pilu Chemnitz told CBS News partner BBC News that Greenlanders "are all very tired of the US president" and "just want to be left alone."
Officials from Denmark, Greenland, and the US met in Washington on 8 January to discuss the tensions
A second round of talks is scheduled for next week, though the path toward a "practical solution" appears increasingly narrow as the White House continues to exert pressure for a quick decision.
