Danish Prime Minister calls on Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland

(Patria) - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday called on US President Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland, after he reiterated his desire for it in an interview with The Atlantic magazine, Reuters reported.

"It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US taking over Greenland. The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Kingdom of Denmark," Frederiksen said.

Trump told the magazine: "We absolutely need Greenland. We need it for defense."

He spoke a day after the United States arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and the president said Washington would lead the Latin American country.

This has raised concerns in Denmark that the same could happen to Greenland, a Danish territory.

Frederiksen said: "Therefore, I would strongly urge the US to stop threatening a historically close ally and another country and another people, who have very clearly stated that they are not for sale."

Strategically important island

On December 21, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland, sparking renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Washington's interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island.
Trump advocated for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States. Landry publicly supports this idea.

The strategic position of the Arctic island between Europe and North America makes it a key location for the US ballistic missile defense system, while its mineral wealth is attractive as the United States hopes to reduce its dependence on Chinese exports.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement, but is heavily dependent on Danish subsidies.

In the past year, Denmark has sought to mend strained relations with Greenland, while also trying to ease tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic defense.