Greenland Parties Reject US Presidents Threats Over National Sovereignty

Five parties in Greenland’s parliament issue joint statement on island’s future.

In a joint statement released late Friday, the leaders of all five political parties elected to Greenland’s parliament emphasized that the island’s future should be decided by its people. The statement comes after US President Donald Trump made repeated threats to take control of the Arctic island, citing concerns over Russia and China’s potential involvement.

The statement reads: “We emphasize once again our desire for an end to US contempt for our country.” The parties also stated that they do not want to be affiliated with any other country, but rather identify as Greenlanders. They emphasized the need for the people of Greenland to make decisions about their country’s future without external pressure or interference.

A meeting of Greenland’s parliament, the Inatsisartut, will be brought forward to ensure a fair and comprehensive debate on the island’s future. The date of the meeting has not yet been determined. This comes after Trump stated that he would “do something” on Greenland, regardless of the local population’s wishes.

The US military presence in Greenland under a 1951 agreement with Denmark is not considered sufficient to guarantee the island’s defense. European capitals are scrambling to respond to the White House’s recent announcement about Trump’s interest in buying Greenland and his willingness to use military force if necessary.

Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants have expressed concerns over Trump’s renewed push for control of the island, with many seeking independence from Denmark. A 2009 agreement between Greenland and Denmark recognizes the right to independence for Greenlanders, but the parties disagree on how and when to achieve it.

Source: Al Jazeera