The Danish Prime Minister has advised Donald Trump to “stop threatening” to take over Greenland.
Mette Frederiksen said that “there is absolutely no point in talking about the need for the United States to take over Greenland,” adding: “The United States has no right to annex any of the three countries of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Her remarks came after Katie Miller – the wife of one of Trump's aides, Stephen Miller – tweeted a map of Greenland in the colors of the American flag next to the word “COMING SOON.”
Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of Greenland becoming an annexed part of the US, citing its strategic location and mineral wealth.
In a statement published on the Danish government's website, Frederiksen said she was reaching out to the United States “very directly.”
She said Denmark – “and therefore Greenland” – is a NATO member and is subject to the alliance's security guarantees. Denmark already had a defense agreement with the US that gave it access to Greenland, she said, and Denmark had increased its investment in security in the Arctic region.
“So I would urge the United States to stop making threats against a historically close ally, and against another country and another people who have made it very clear that they are not for sale,” she said.
Earlier, the Danish Ambassador to the United States responded to this. fast Ms Miller – a right-wing podcaster and former aide to Trump during his first term – with a “friendly reminder” that the two countries are allies and saying Denmark expects respect for its territorial integrity.
The exchange took place after the US major military operation against Venezuela on Saturday, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them to New York.
Trump later said the US would “run” Venezuela and American oil companies would “start making money for the country.”
The US president has previously refused to rule out the possibility of using force to secure control of Greenland, a huge island in the Arctic.
Trump said its inclusion in the United States would serve US security interests due to its strategic location and abundance of minerals critical to high-tech sectors.
Recent move by the Trump administration appoint a special envoy to Greenland caused anger in Denmark.
Greenland, which has a population of 57,000, has had broad self-government since 1979, although defense and foreign policy remain in Danish hands.
Although most Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, public opinion polls show that the vast majority of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States.
