COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Friday he was ready to talk to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has said he wants control of the Arctic island, and called for respect for the island’s aspirations for independence.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has described US control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, as an “absolute necessity”. He did not rule out the potential use of military or economic means, including tariffs against Denmark.
At a press conference in Copenhagen, when asked if he had contact with Trump, Egede replied: “No, but we are ready to talk.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who also addressed the news conference, said Thursday that she had sought a meeting with Trump but did not expect it to happen before his inauguration.
Home to 57,000 people, Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 but is now a self-governing Danish territory. In 2009, the election secured the right to independence.
The US maintains a military base in the northern part of the strategically important territory.
Egede emphasized Greenland’s aspirations, saying: “We have a desire for independence, a desire to be masters in our own house… This is something that everyone should respect.”
“But this does not mean that we are severing all ties, all cooperation and all relations with Denmark,” he said.
The independence movement has gained momentum in recent years, as Egede spoke about in his New Year speech.
