Greenland’s prime minister has stated that President Donald Trump‘s unpredictability makes people feel insecure and that he had been disrespectful to the island’s people.
In an interview with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) a day before elections in the Danish semi-autonomous territory, Múte B. Egede said: “The things that are happening in the world right now worry me quite a lot. That there is a world order that is faltering on many fronts, and perhaps a president in the United States who is very unpredictable in a way that makes people feel insecure.”
His comments come after Trump said at his joint address to Congressthat he plans to control Greenland “one way or another.”
Many Republicans laughed after he made the statement, which many people in Greenland took as an insult and a threat. Trump has reiterated his comments on Truth Social.
Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP
Why It Matters
Trump has said he wants his legacy to be one of peacemaking, but has made repeated threats to take over or “buy” mineral-rich Greenland since entering office.
If Trump were to order an invasion of Greenland this could theoretically trigger a war with the rest of NATO, as the defense alliance’s Article 5 obliges members to come to the assistance of any member state that is attacked.
What To Know
The majority of Greenlandic people are indigenous Inuits and Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, meaning the island has a parliament. However, its foreign policy, monetary policy and security are controlled by Denmark.
The current leading party in Greenland is the left-wing separatist Inuit Ataqatigiit party, which will go head-to-head on March 11 with the second-largest party, Siumut, and other parties running for parliamentary seats.
The upcoming elections have been largely about gaining independence from Denmark. However, some Greenland citizens in the past have also proposed aligning more closely with the U.S., a strategy they may now have to rethink.
Egede told DR that he still believes the island is in a “struggle with Denmark,” and that he wants all parties following the election to form a “broad coalition” for the sake of unity.
Evgeniy Maloletka, file/AP Photo
If Greenland were to gain full independence from Denmark it would have to apply for its own NATO membership. It is unclear whether this would be granted, leaving the island much more vulnerable to a theoretical takeover by the U.S.
Greenland is not Trump’s only focus for proposed U.S. expansion. He has repeatedly called Canada the “51st state” and has threatened to take over the Panama Canal. However, despite calling for other sovereign nations to become part of the U.S., Trump has not appeared to embrace D.C. statehood, despite 86 percent of D.C. residents saying they would like to become a state.
Trump chose to hang a portrait of President Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office. Jackson is known for the expansion into native territories resulting in the Trail of Tears, the forced removal of 17,000 Cherokee from Southeastern states. Approximately 6,000 Cherokee died as a result.
What People Are Saying
Múte B. Egede told DR: “We deserve to be treated with respect, and I don’t think the American president has done that lately since he took office,” emphasizing that Trump should remember Greenland is not up for grabs.
Donald Trump on Truth Social: “As I made clear during my Joint Address to Congress, the United States strongly supports the people of Greenland’s right to determine their own future. We will continue to KEEP YOU SAFE, as we have since World War II. We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH — And, if you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America!”
What Happens Next
The two largest parliamentary parties in Greenland are Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut. They are projected to take the largest share of seats tomorrow, and Egede is predicted to remain in power. Both are separatist parties, but Trump’s rhetoric may force Greenland to remain as a Danish outpost for the remainder of Trump’s term in office.
