Trump Junior arrived in Greenland

Donald Trump Jr. began a private visit to Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark coveted by his father. He claims to be there as a “tourist” and not to have planned any official meetings.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr. began a private visit to Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory coveted by his father Donald Trump. Greenland seeks to gain sovereignty, but remains financially dependent on Copenhagen. “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in this context.

A trip “to make video content”

The plane marked “Trump” and carrying the president-elect’s son landed shortly before 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. Swiss time) at Nuuk airport, along the snow-covered fjord.

Interviewed by Greenlandic public television and radio KNR after getting off the plane, Donald Trump Jr. said being there as a “tourist” and not having planned any official meetings.

The local press assures that he will be there for only a few hours. “This trip is probably just what Trump Jr. says himself, to make video content”estimates Ulrik Pram Gad, Greenland specialist at the Danish Institute of International Studies, to AFP.

The autonomous Danish territory arouses desire for its natural resources – although oil prospecting and uranium exploitation are prohibited – and for its geostrategic importance – the United States already has a military base there.

Ulrik Pram Gad estimate:

“Greenland is not for sale»

This is not the first time that the American billionaire has taken an interest in Greenland. He had considered buying it in 2019 during his first mandate and had already been rejected.

“As Prime Minister Mute Egede said, Greenland is not for sale”Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on TV2 television. And to emphasize:

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and never will be”wrote the head of the Greenlandic government Mute Egede before Christmas on Facebook following a first suggestion of annexation. “No thanks,” said MP Aaja Chemnitz, who represents Greenland in the Danish Parliament, after Donald Trump’s offer. And to write, on Facebook, refusing to “be a pawn in Trump’s burning dreams of extending his empire to our country”.

With its 57,000 inhabitants spread over 2.2 million km2, which represents the lowest population density in the world, the immense Arctic island is geographically closer to the American continent than to Europe. Autonomous since 1979, Greenland has its flag, its language and its institutions but justice, monetary policy, foreign policy, defense and security still depend on Copenhagen.

“Step forward”

The post of ambassador for the Arctic has crystallized tensions between the two capitalsbecause Denmark had appointed a diplomat with no ties to the region two years ago. At the end of December, the Danish government announced that Nuuk would now nominate a candidate for this position and chair the Arctic Council on behalf of the Scandinavian kingdom.

The Greenlandic Prime Minister said the territory must do “a step forward” and “shape its future” particularly with regard to (its) business partners and the people with whom “we should work closely”.

In 2023, a draft Constitution was presented to the local Parliament, the Inatsisartut. “Since then there has been no public debate,” notes researcher Ulrik Pram Gad. The discussion could, however, emerge during the next campaign, with local legislative elections due to take place no later than April 6.

(ag/ats)

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