(Adnkronos) – A new poll shows that 85 percent of Greenlanders do not want their island to become part of the United States, after Donald Trump talked about the possibility of taking control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. After his re-election, Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland, controlled by Denmark but enjoying a large degree of autonomy. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said: “I think we’ll do it,” and claimed that the 57,000 residents of the Arctic island “want to be with us.”
However, a new poll by the Danish newspaper Berlingske showed that only 6% of Greenlanders are in favor of annexation to the United States, while 9% are undecided. All this while the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during a lightning visit to Berlin, Paris and Brussels, declared that Europe must “remain united” in the face of changing relations with the United States. After meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she said: “I want to make sure that all of Europe remains united. Not just in relation to the kingdom of Denmark, but in general.”
Frederiksen, who also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, added: “Everyone in Europe can see that there will now be a different collaboration with the United States. At least, these are the tones we are hearing from Washington in relation to trade and economic cooperation. What the consequences will be, we don’t know yet.” The prime minister added that she is working “very hard right now” to safeguard Denmark’s interests. “Regardless of what happens in the United States, Europe must be strong,” added the Social Democratic leader. Trump has refused to rule out the use of military force to conquer Greenland.
Asked if she would speak to Trump again, Frederiksen said she would not “go into calendar acrobatics”, but added: “The dialogue we have with the Americans takes place on different channels and levels”. At yesterday’s joint press conference in Berlin, neither Scholz nor Frederiksen mentioned Trump or Greenland, but they alluded to it. After talking about Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and how “the inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law”, Scholz said: “The principle must apply to everyone. I made that clear again a few days ago. Borders must not be moved by force”.
Frederiksen said Europe is facing a “more uncertain reality” that requires greater cooperation. “We need a stronger and more resolute Europe, capable of defending and promoting its interests,” she said. “We have to take more responsibility for our security”.
