Greenlanders express concerns over potential US annexation efforts

Copenhagen, Denmark - A meeting between Danish parliamentarians and international journalists has been interrupted as Greenlandic politician Aaja Chemnitz’s office is temporarily closed for a new interview.

Chemnitz, who represents the Inuit Ataqatigiit party in the Danish parliament, expressed her country’s stance on US President Donald Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland. “Greenland is not for sale, and Greenland will never be for sale,” she stated.

The crisis meeting with the Danish foreign relations committee was held last week, focusing solely on the deteriorating relationship between Denmark and its NATO ally, the United States. The issue stems from Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, which has sparked concern among Greenlandic politicians.

Aki-Matilda Hoegh-Dam of the Naleraq party also spoke about the situation, stating that it is a difficult time for Greenland’s 56,000 people. “We have been isolated from the rest of the world for almost 300 years, and now we feel cornered,” she said.

The US president has reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland since December, first proposing the idea in 2019 during his first term in office. The Danish prime minister had previously called the idea “absurd” and Trump cancelled an official state visit to Denmark as a result.

Trump claims that acquiring Greenland is necessary for national security, citing its strategic location within North America. However, some observers believe that rare minerals and oil beneath the ice are driving his interest in the island.

The situation has raised concerns among Danish officials, with former defence minister Hans Engell describing it as “the worst foreign relations crisis for the Danish kingdom since World War II.”

Source: Al Jazeera