Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens within the Roosevelt Room on the White Home in Washington, DC, USA, March 24. Trump on Sunday appointed Landry as particular envoy to Greenland, a job Landry accepted whereas reaffirming his need for the island to affix the USA. EPA-Yonhap
COPENHAGEN — President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that the USA wanted Greenland for “nationwide safety” after his appointment of a particular envoy to the Danish Arctic island triggered a brand new spat with Copenhagen.
Since returning to the White Home in January, Trump has repeatedly mentioned the USA “wants” the resource-rich autonomous territory for safety causes and has refused to rule out utilizing power to safe it.
Trump on Sunday appointed Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as particular envoy to Greenland, prompting anger from Denmark, which summoned the U.S. ambassador.
“We want Greenland for nationwide safety. Not for minerals,” Trump instructed a information convention in Palm Seaside, Florida, on Monday.
“In case you check out Greenland, you search for and down the coast, you’ve Russian and Chinese language ships far and wide,” he mentioned.
“We want it for nationwide safety. Now we have to have it,” the president mentioned, including that Landry “needed to guide the cost”.
On his appointment, Landry instantly vowed to make the Danish territory “part of the U.S.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen earlier Monday mentioned in a joint assertion that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.
“You can’t annex one other nation,” they mentioned. “We count on respect for our joint territorial integrity.”
Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned he was “deeply angered” by the transfer and warned Washington to respect Denmark’s sovereignty.
The European Union later supplied its “full solidarity” to Denmark.
The Danish overseas minister earlier instructed TV2 tv the appointment and statements had been “completely unacceptable” and, a number of hours later, mentioned the U.S. ambassador had been referred to as as much as the ministry for a proof.
“We summoned the American ambassador to the overseas ministry at the moment for a gathering, along with the Greenlandic consultant, the place we very clearly drew a pink line and in addition requested for a proof,” Lokke Rasmussen instructed public broadcaster DR in an interview.
An aerial view exhibits japanese Greenland, Sept. 18. Reuters-Yonhap
Strategic location
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa confused on social media that territorial integrity and sovereignty had been “elementary rules of worldwide regulation.”
Leaders of each Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the huge island just isn’t on the market and that it’ll resolve its personal future.
Most of Greenland’s 57,000 folks wish to turn out to be unbiased from Denmark however don’t want to turn out to be a part of the USA, in line with an opinion ballot in January.
Lokke Rasmussen mentioned Trump’s appointment of a particular envoy confirmed continued U.S. curiosity in Greenland.
“Nevertheless, we insist that everybody — together with the U.S. — should present respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he mentioned in an announcement emailed to AFP.
Washington argues Greenland, positioned between North America and Europe, may give it an financial edge over its rivals within the Arctic area.
The island has untapped uncommon earth minerals and could possibly be an important participant because the polar ice melts and new transport routes emerge.
Greenland’s location additionally places it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the USA.
The US has its Pituffik navy base in Greenland and opened a consulate on the island in June 2020.
In August, Denmark summoned the U.S. cost d’affaires after not less than three U.S. officers near Trump had been seen in Greenland’s capital Nuuk looking for out how folks felt about deepening U.S. ties.
Trump’s dedication to take over Greenland has shocked Denmark, a fellow member of NATO that has fought alongside the US in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In January, Copenhagen introduced a $2.0-billion plan to spice up its navy presence within the Arctic area.
