Trump son in Greenland, Danish territory in search of sovereignty

Donald Trump’s eldest son began a private visit to Greenland on Tuesday, an autonomous territory of Denmark coveted by his father, with the Danish Prime Minister affirming at the same time that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”.

Greenland is an incredible place and its people, if and when they become part of our nation, will benefit enormously. […] MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN! (Make Greenland Great Again), Donald Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.

Greenland belongs to the Greenlandersreplied Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Danish channel TV2 upon the arrival of Donald Trump Jr at Nuuk airport on Tuesday around 1:00 p.m. UT.

Questioned by Greenlandic public television and radio KNR when he got off the plane, the son of the president-elect said he was there as tourist and not having planned official meetings.

His father, however, revived the speculation shortly after, affirming on Truth Social that the island needs safety, security, strength and peace. It’s a deal that needs to be made.

Trump Jr. was also filmed by his team in a restaurant in Nuuk, surrounded by supporters listening to his father touting a deal with Greenland over the phone.

The autonomous Danish territory, which seeks to gain sovereignty, but remains financially dependent on Copenhagen, 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.

What is worrying is the way Trump (father) talks about international relations and it can get worse if he starts taking over countriesestimates with theAFP Ulrik Pram Gad, Greenland specialist at the Danish Institute of International Studies.

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.

Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and never will bewrote the head of the Greenlandic government, Mute Egede, on Facebook before Christmas, following a first suggestion of annexation.

Most Greenlanders will agree with their Prime Minister that Greenland is not for sale, but open for businessexplains the researcher.

No thanks

No thanksalso said MP Aaja Chemnitz, who represents Greenland in the Danish Parliament, after Donald Trump’s offer.

Incredible that some people can be so naive as to think that our happiness is achieved by becoming American citizens.she wrote on Facebook, refusing toto be a pawn in Trump’s burning dreams of expanding his empire to our country.

With its 57,000 inhabitants spread over 2.2 million square kilometers, which represents the lowest population density in the world, the immense Arctic island is geographically closer to the American continent than to Europe.

Colonized by the Danes in the 18th century, it is some 2,500 km from the tutelary power, to which it still owes a fifth of its GDP annually, in the form of grants. The other pillar of the local economy is fishing.

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.

The post of ambassador for the Arctic has crystallized tensions between the two capitals, because Denmark had appointed a diplomat without links to the region two years ago.

Step forward

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.

During his wishes, the Greenlandic Prime Minister affirmed that the territory must do a step forward and shape its future particularly with regard to [ses] business partners and 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 debatenotes 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.

I expect more discussions on formal steps towards independence, how politicians want to secure the welfare state and the future of Greenland.