Trump Proposes a 'Deal' Regarding Greenland, Denmark Affirms Its Sovereignty

SadaNews - President Donald Trump announced a framework for a future agreement regarding Greenland and the entire Arctic region, while Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that "the United States will not own Greenland, and that the island represents a red line for his country."

Trump said after his meeting with NATO Secretary-General on Wednesday evening that the draft agreement concerning Greenland is "long-term" and will last "forever."

Trump also announced that he would not impose tariffs on several European countries that were set to take effect on February 1, confirming that additional talks are ongoing regarding the Golden Dome Agreement related to Greenland.

Previously, Trump ruled out for the first time using military force to acquire Greenland, but at the same time demanded an "immediate negotiation" to transfer its sovereignty to the United States, sharply criticizing several allied Western leaders and countries.

From the platform of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said regarding the island under Danish sovereignty: "People thought I would use force. I don't need to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All the United States wants is a place called Greenland," describing the island as a "huge piece of ice."

The American president stressed the necessity of starting immediate negotiations "to discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States," considering that "no country or group of countries can guarantee the security of Greenland without the United States."

He added, "We are a superpower, greater than people think. I think they realized that two weeks ago in Venezuela."

Trump sent a warning message to countries rejecting the American offer, saying, "We want a piece of ice to protect the world, and they refuse to give it to us. So they have to choose. They can say: yes. And we will be very grateful to them. They can say: no. And we will remember that."

Danish Rejection

In response, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen considered Trump's aspirations "unchanged," noting that the denial of using military force "must be taken into account, but that doesn't remove the problem."

Rasmussen avoided commenting on whether a framework for a future agreement regarding Greenland has been established, stating: "We should not stand here on television evaluating that."

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that the issue of Danish sovereignty over Greenland was not discussed during his talks with the U.S. president, adding in an interview with Fox News that the discussions focused on what needs to be done to ensure the protection of the Arctic.

Axios reported from informed sources that the framework concerning Greenland, which Trump discussed with the NATO Secretary-General, includes the principle of respecting Denmark's sovereignty over the island.

The site cited two informed sources saying that the NATO Secretary-General's proposal does not include the transfer of full sovereignty over Greenland from Denmark to the United States.

On the other hand, CNN cited an informed source stating that the proposed framework includes renegotiating the 1951 agreement that established the American military presence on Greenland.

White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt confirmed that the details of the agreement regarding Greenland will be announced after the involved parties finish the details, adding in statements to Axios that "President Trump once again proves that he is the ultimate dealmaker."

For his part, Lars Klingbeil, Deputy Chancellor of Germany, said that the clear European stance in recent days was crucial in defending the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark, pointing out that Europe sent a strong message rejecting any infringement on their territorial integrity. He added that European and international pressure contributed to changing the American president's position.

While the issue of the Arctic island dominated the Davos Forum, the government of Greenland called on its citizens to prepare for all scenarios, urging them to stock up on food and follow upcoming guidelines in case of power outages or communication disruptions.

Source: Al Jazeera