Greenland says it's not for sale despite Trump threats and son's visit – The National

As Donald Trump continues to be talked about Take control of GreenlandHis eldest son, Donald Trump Jrtraveled to the autonomous Dutch territory on Tuesday – but Greenland and Danish authorities are making it clear they want nothing to do with it. What is Trump proposing?

“Don Jr. and my representatives are landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday. “The reception has been great. They and the free world need safety, security, strength and peace! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA Make Greenland Great Again!

In a statement, Greenland's government said the younger Trump was visiting “as a private individual” and not as an official visit, and that representatives from Greenland would not meet him.

Additionally, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.” gave The island is “not for sale.” “We need to remain calm and stick to our principles,” he added.

Speaking on a podcast Monday, Trump Jr. said he was making the trip without any political motivations, calling it a “personal day trip.” However, the visit had political ramifications.

The president-elect has expressed a desire to gain territory in the Arctic — something he expressed during his first presidency, an area of ​​strategic importance to the United States, China, Russia and others.

And shortly after his son touched down in Greenland, Trump said at a news conference that he would not. Reject the use of military force or economic coercion. to take control of Greenland, saying “we need it for national security.”

The world's largest island, Greenland sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80 percent covered by ice sheets. The autonomous region has approximately 56,000 residents, most of whom are indigenous Inuit people.

Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede called for independence from Denmark in a New Year's speech, saying it would be a way for Greenland to free itself from its colonial past. But Ejede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the United States, insisting the island is not for sale.

Independence has become a key issue ahead of Greenland's parliamentary elections. No date has been set, but it should be no later than April 6.

Greenland's member of the Danish parliament, Aja Kemnitz, told The Associated Press that she Greenland has no interest in becoming part of the United States. And said that she hears the same sentiments from her constituents.

“Most people don't want it,” he said. “I think some people find it quite disrespectful. And the way it's done, and just the fact that you're saying you can buy another country.

Trump has also set his sights on Canada.

Greenland is not the only territory outside the United States that Trump has talked about acquiring and making part of the United States. He can't stop talking Canada became the 51st state..

At the same Tuesday press conference where he said he would not rule out military force or economic coercion on Greenland. Threatened similar action against Canada..

When asked by a reporter if he was “considering annexing and acquiring Canada,” Trump replied, “No — economic power.”

“Canada and America, it's really going to be something,” he said. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what it looks like, and it's going to be a lot better for national security, too.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded on social media shortly after Trump's threat.There's not a snowball's chance in hell. That Canada would become part of the United States.

“Workers and communities in our two countries benefit from being each other's largest trade and security partners,” he added.

Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. “subsidizes” Canada to the tune of $200 billion in trade and spends billions more than Canada on continental defense programs like NORAD, which he said is “essentially the military.” No.”

“We don't need their cars, we don't need their wood,” he continued. “We They don't need anything.. We don't need their dairy products.

“We don't need anything. So why are we losing $200 billion a year and more to protect Canada?

— With files from Sean Boynton of Global News and The Associated Press

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