“We are in a foreign policy situation, which means we have to get closer,” the new Greenland Prime Minister said on April 27th.
Greenland and Denmark said on April 27 that they will move to solidify their alliance as President Donald Trump continues to show interest in purchasing the Arctic Island.
The exhibition of unity followed discussions in Copenhagen between Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens Frederick Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen. Nielsen arrives in the Danish capital on April 26th, with a three-day visit scheduled.
“We are in a foreign policy situation, which means we have to get closer and work together,” Nielsen said at a joint press conference with Fredericksen.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory of the Arctic Ocean in northeastern Canada, offers strategic, political and economic benefits, particularly as it turns its eye on the northwest passages of the transport route amid delays on the Panama Canal.
Nielsen’s visit to Denmark comes as Trump repeatedly made his wish for Greenland to become US territory. He mentioned the possibility of purchasing it from Copenhagen.
Danish and Greenland leaders responded by saying that only Greenlander should decide the future of the island. They tried to maintain good relations with the United States, but pushed back Trump’s proposal to annex the territory.
“We are ready for a strong partnership (with the US) and more development, but we look forward to respect,” Nielsen said.
“We are not a property that anyone can buy.”
The continued expansion of consulates in Greenland’s capital, agreed before Trump took office, is causing Greenlander concern, Nielsen added.
When asked, Nielsen refused to say whether he had been in contact with the Trump administration since he took office earlier this month.
Relations between Greenland and Denmark appear to be improving after the island’s former prime minister Mute Egede condemned the territory’s historic “genocide” in December 2024. In January he advocated that Greenland would become independent from Denmark.
“It’s time for us to step forward and shape our future as we ourselves to work closely with whom we will work closely with and who will become,” Egede said.
Greenland’s independence movement has gained traction on the island in recent years, part of cheating by Danish authorities in the 20th century, including an unwilling birth control campaign that began in the 1960s.
“The history and current conditions indicate that our cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark has not been successful in creating perfect equality,” Eged said.
Egede had previously rejected Trump’s attempts to buy an island dating back to 2019.
“Greenland belongs to us. We’re not for sale, and never for sale,” he said.
On April 27, Fredericksen said Denmark is ready to pool more resources in Greenland to financially support the island as it assumes more responsibility for domestic issues from Copenhagen.
As Denmark seeks further cooperation from the US in Arctic defense, Nielsen and Fredericksen said on April 27 that they vowed to strengthen their defense in key regions.
Reuters contributed to this report.
