Ashleigh Fields
The HillFri, 03 Jan 2025 09:06 UTC
© naalakkersuisut.glGreenland Prime Minister Múte Egede
Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede announced a desire to obtain independence from Denmark in the wake of President-elect Trump's comments about buying the island territory.
"The Greenlandic people's opportunity for independence has been adopted through the provisions of the Self-Government Act, thereby creating a legal basis for how independence can be achieved," Egede said in a
Wednesday speech in honor of the new year.
"A draft constitution for our country has also been prepared," he said.
"Work has already begun with regard to creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state within the possibilities and provisions of the Self-Government Act."
The leader said a new development for Greenland is "imminent" days after Trump took a second pass at
purchasing the land, which sits in the
prominent Arctic region.
"For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump said in a Dec. 22 Truth Social post.
Egede
hit back in a statement, declaring Greenland was not for sale and would undertake every effort to not be acquired by the U.S.
"Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom," Egede said.His New Year's Day speech emphasized the autonomous territory's developments, highlighting its opening of an international airport as a global pathway to change.
"In the coming summer, it will now be possible to reach us directly from other countries, without first traveling via Denmark, it will therefore be possible for us to develop and govern our country more independently," he added.
He declared that new airports in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq were the next step in a process for an "improved" and "flexible" infrastructure that could bolster tourism and trade.
Egede concluded his speech with well wishes for a prosperous new year.
Comment:
A Greenlandic media, Sermitsiaq.ag reported:
Warm but reserved welcome to Trump Jr.
© Jensine BerthelsenIt was Jørgen Boassen who invited Donald Trump Jr. welcome when he arrived in Nuuk.
Author Jensine Berthelsen
There were several Greenlandic Trump supporters and other curious citizens at Nuuk's airport to welcome Donald Trump Jr. when he landed in Nuuk on Tuesday. It was the Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen who welcomed him, while the official Greenland was absent.
The Greenlandic and Danish politicians are probably working overtime in relation to the American courtship of Greenland.
If the citizens that Sermitsiaq spoke to at the airport can in any way be representative of how informed Greenlandic society is about what is going on right over their heads, then the Greenlandic population probably does not feel fully prepared to take position on the country's future in relation to what is now, but also in relation to what may happen in the future.
Because even though Donald Trump Jr. plays down his visit to Greenland, there is a very special reason for the visit, namely that his father, the future US president, has decided that the US should own and control Greenland. And just the fact that he sends his son to visit clearly shows how high the matter is on the future president's agenda.
- Denmark has treated us badly
Malo Reimer, who has chosen to wear a MAGA cap on today's occasion, would very much like to know what the purpose of Trump's courtship is.
Although he shows signs through the cap that he is happy for Trump, he is still neither for nor against Trump:
- I find it difficult to assess the matter, so I am neither for nor against Trump, but I am excited about what development we are heading towards, says Malo Reimer.
But if you were given a choice between continuing to belong to Denmark or coming under the United States, which would you choose?
- If we look in the rearview mirror and see how Denmark has treated us, then we have to take a step further, and if the Americans want to cooperate with us in an orderly and equal manner, it may be an option. I say this because evidence is still emerging of how Denmark has treated us, and just by looking at how our Naalakkersuisut are treated by the Danish government, it shows that there is no equality.
Does this mean that you are leaning towards the USA as Greenland's future affiliation?
- I can't answer that, at this time, we also have to be aware of how our cousins in Alaska have been treated, their language and Inuit culture has largely disappeared, so we shouldn't say yes to anything, but if they want to treat us equally, then yes!
- Unbelievable but true!
Inutsiaq Lassen Kramer cannot really relate to the American courtship, as there are no concrete things to relate to at this time:
- It is unbelievable that Donald Trump Jr. now lands here in Greenland, but it is true, and we will probably have to deal with it, now that we have seen with our own eyes that there is actually something to it.
You are young and have your whole life ahead of you, what is your opinion on Greenland's future, should it continue to be with Denmark or should it be with the United States?
- I find it difficult to answer that, but I am more inclined towards continued cooperation with Denmark, answers Inutsiaq Lassen Kramer.
- It's exciting
Inuuteq Aronsen also finds it difficult to relate to what is happening between Greenland, the United States and Denmark at the moment.
But he has gone to the airport to welcome Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland:
- It is exciting to have a visit from America. But I have a hard time relating to it, as I don't really follow what's going on.
But if it were up to you, what should Greenland focus on?
-UNITED STATES!
Does that mean you would like to see our country as part of the United States?
-Yes!
Satisfied with the cooperation with Denmark
Only this morning, Anna Heilmann found out that Donald Trump Jr. was going to land in Nuuk, and she and her colleagues chose to go to the airport to follow the course of the battle.
- It is only this morning that I heard that he was on his way to Greenland, and when my colleagues wanted to go to the airport, I chose to go with him, so I could see Donald Trump Jr. for myself.
What do you think about the USA's rapprochement with Greenland?
- We have previously heard that Trump wanted to buy Greenland, but even though I could be tempted to think it is ok, I do not know under what conditions it would have to happen, so I do not know how to answer the question.
If you had to decide, how would Greenland react to the rapprochements?
- I am satisfied with the cooperation with Denmark, while I find it difficult to imagine how Greenland could come under the United States, so it is too early for me to assess what is best for Greenland.
Greenland's probably biggest Trump fan: - We must learn to understand Trump's signals
Jørgen Boassen is probably Greenland's biggest and most visible Trump fan. He has long since been preoccupied with Trump's inner circle. This can be seen by the fact that it was he who welcomed Donald Trump Jr. to the country in national costume, and by the fact that you can immediately see that there is deep familiarity between Junior and Boassen.
At first glance, one would think that Boassen is in favor of Greenland coming under the United States, but he clearly expresses that his mission is a closer cooperation with the United States and not a relationship of dependence on the world's greatest power:
'The United States will not own Greenland, because we do it ourselves, but they can cooperate with us, and I think it is very important that we pave the way for closer and greater cooperation in the future, because about 75 percent of the country's population is suffering and there is a need for the restoration of our country. It is therefore very important that we constantly develop and maintain cooperative relations, especially with the United States.
But the future president wants to own and control Greenland?
- It is a natural wish from Trump, because Greenland is part of the North American continent, and in this context, Trump wants to keep foreign powers outside Greenland, especially China and Russia, and that is his message. The man has a very sharp brain, and that means that you have to learn to understand his messages.
But what do you think should happen in relation to the USA's rapprochements?
- It is entirely up to the Greenlandic population.
But in relation to your opinion?
- It is necessary that the offer is thoroughly investigated, what opportunities it entails, but what we do know is that we cannot afford to lose such a great opportunity for cooperation and protection of our country. For example, Denmark has cooperated with the United States for more than 75 years, and for many years, Denmark has gone over the head of Greenland to the United States to negotiate about Greenland. Now we are a society that wants to move on, and we are mature enough to make important and decisive decisions ourselves, and we should stand by that by acting.
'Now the United States is addressing Greenland directly and not through Denmark, and that opportunity is too important not to act. We have never had this opportunity before, because the changing presidents of the United States, especially the democratic presidents of the United States, have over the years addressed Denmark and not to us directly, and the Danes have a great tendency to see us as a paralyzed society, which is not true.
Jørgen Boassen concludes with an appeal for the entire Greenlandic society to stand together, even though there may be differences of opinion, he believes that by standing together, Greenland can achieve far greater benefits for the country.
- For example, I am not a Harris fan, but I do not use my energy to disparage those I do not agree with. We in Greenlandic society should learn to lower our guard and think more about the country's well-being. Because again, 75 percent of the population suffers in this country, and we must lift them up so that we can ensure a united and strengthened country for future generations.
See also:
But perhaps the Danes sell the island to the Americans, as the Russian Tsar once sold Alaska.