The president of Greenland, Múte B. Egede, reiterated that the autonomous island is not for sale and does not wish to become part of the United States, in response to statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed interest in acquiring this Arctic territory. Egede stated that Greenland belongs to them and that their future is decided in their territory.
In previous statements, Trump had expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and even threatened Denmark with coercive measures if it did not comply with his wishes. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen pointed out that Greenlanders seek to loosen their ties with Denmark in pursuit of a more equal relationship, but clarified that they have no intention of joining the United States.
Trump, in his speech before the U.S. Congress, invited the people of Greenland to join the country and emphasized that the incorporation of the island is important for national security. Despite Trump's assertions, Rasmussen highlighted that the essential part of the speech was the recognition of the right to self-determination of the Greenlandic people.
Greenland, which will hold autonomous elections next Tuesday, has had a Statute of Autonomy since 2010 that recognizes its right to self-determination. All political forces support independence, but they differ in the timelines and methods to achieve it. The island, with a population of around 57,000 inhabitants, significantly depends on Danish economic aid and has fishing as its main economic activity.
