Danish PM visits Greenland in show of solidarity after Trump acquisition threats
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has put on a show of unity with Greenlandic leaders in her first visit to the Arctic island since Donald Trump's renewed threats to acquire the territory, saying that when Greenland is in a 'difficult situation' so too are Denmark and Europe.
The Danish PM boarded an inspection ship on Thursday with Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after which they were due to hold a joint press conference expected to focus on unity and Arctic security.
Greenland's outgoing prime minister, Múte B Egede, was also onboard. The three leaders were pictured looking out to sea and perched on a helicopter while onboard the ocean-patrol vessel HDMS Vædderen.
In contrast to last week's visit by the US vice-president, JD Vance – which, after a diplomatic outcry, was limited to the US military base Pituffik and did not involve Greenlandic or Danish representatives – Frederiksen was greeted at the airport by Egede and went straight to the capital, Nuuk, where she met Nielsen.
On Wednesday, Frederiksen said: 'When Greenland is in a difficult situation, the kingdom of Denmark and Europe are also in a difficult situation.
'Regardless of what discussions we may have down the road about our commonwealth, it is clear that with the pressure from the Americans on Greenland in relation to sovereignty, borders and the future, we must stand together.'
In a clear signal to Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to gain control of the autonomous territory, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark, and has not ruled out military or economic force to do so, she said: 'The USA will not take over Greenland. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the USA will not take over Greenland. And that is, of course, also the message that we will say collectively over the next few days.'
On social media she posted a picture of herself alongside the incoming and outgoing leaders, with the message: 'Cooperation. Equality. Security.'
Frederiksen's visit had initially been criticised by members of the governing coalition because the new government has not yet been officially approved. However, before her arrival, Nielsen said: 'Denmark is our closest partner and it is natural we meet as soon as possible.'
The last time Frederiksen was in Greenland was in March 2024 on a joint visit with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
As a former Danish colony, Greenland remains in the kingdom of Denmark, which continues to control the territory's foreign and security policies.
Greenland's long-running independence movement has been gaining momentum in recent months – momentum the Trump administration appears to be hoping to capitalise on – particularly after revelations over alleged mistreatment of Greenlanders by the Danish state.
But the threat of US intervention appears to have slowed down appetite in Greenland for a rapid move towards independence.
A general election last month resulted in the most US- and Trump-friendly party leaving coalition talks, after which the four other parties, led by Nielsen's Democrats, signed a coalition agreement hours before Vance touched down in Greenland last Friday.
Sign up to This is Europe
The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment
after newsletter promotion
Page one of the agreement stated: 'Greenland belongs to us.'
Frederiksen's visit takes place amid reports from the US that the White House is preparing an estimate of what it would cost the government to control Greenland as a territory.
According to the Washington Post, the White House budget office is assessing the cost of running Greenland and working out an estimate of how much revenue could be earned from its natural resources.
Among the options on the table is to offer Greenland a higher figure in subsidies, approximately £500m a year, than Denmark currently does.
Speaking to US troops in Pituffik, Vance said the US had to gain control of Greenland to stop the threat of China and Russia, and claimed that Denmark had 'not done a good job by the people of Greenland'.
In Washington, Trump claimed the US needed Greenland for 'world peace'.
He said: 'We need Greenland. Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
18 hours ago
- Reuters
Hungary's Orban accuses EU of orchestrating 'repulsive' Pride march
BUDAPEST, June 29 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called Saturday's Pride "repulsive and shameful", accusing the EU of directing opposition politicians to organise the event, which turned into an anti-government protest, local media reported in Sunday. The march in Budapest for LGBTQ+ swelled into one of the largest displays of opposition to Orban in recent years, as an estimated 100,000 participants defied a police ban and threats of fines to join the demonstration. Speaking in a closed online group for his supporters called Fight Club on Sunday, Orban said opposition politicians instructed by "Brussels" had called on their voters to attend the event in large numbers, according to local news outlet Index. "Since yesterday, we are even more certain that these people [opposition politicians] must not be allowed near the helm of government. And we will not allow them," Orban told his supporters, according to Index. He did not offer any evidence for his comments. But the event was organised by the municipality of Budapest, led by mayor Gergely Karacsony, and Orban's government has accused him of being a "puppet" of Brussels for years. Reuters has contacted Pride organisers and the city hall but they did not immediately respond. The European Commission declined to comment on Orban's reported remarks. Orban told his supporters that he found the events at the Pride march "repulsive and shameful," specifically mentioning a drag queen show, men wearing high heels and pamphlets on hormonal therapies. The march had been banned based on a law passed in March that allows for the prohibition of Pride marches, citing the need to protect children. Orban's opponents see the ban as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of a national election next year when the veteran prime minister - whose party has dominated Hungary's political scene for 15 years - will face a strong challenger. On Friday Orban said that European Commission, opens new tab President Ursula von der Leyen, who earlier this week called on Hungarian authorities to let the Pride parade go ahead, regarded Hungary "as a subordinated country" and likened her message to receiving orders from Moscow in communist times. Reuters could not independently confirm the contents of the prime minister's message cited by Index. A government spokesman did not immediately reply to Reuters questions on the report's authenticity. Orban's government, which promotes a Christian-conservative agenda, has gradually curtailed the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the past decade. His government has defended the restrictions saying that the need to protect children supersedes all other rights.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
EU plans to add carbon credits to new climate goal, document shows
BRUSSELS, June 28 (Reuters) - The European Commission is set to propose counting carbon credits bought from other countries towards the European Union's 2040 climate target, a Commission document seen by Reuters showed. The Commission is due to propose a legally binding EU climate target for 2040 on July 2. The EU executive had initially planned a 90% net emissions cut, against 1990 levels, but in recent months has sought to make this goal more flexible, in response to pushback from governments including Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, concerned about the cost. An internal Commission summary of the upcoming proposal, seen by Reuters, said the EU would be able to use "high-quality international credits" from a U.N.-backed carbon credits market to meet 3% of the emissions cuts towards the 2040 goal. The document said the credits would be phased in from 2036, and that additional EU legislation would later set out the origin and quality criteria that the credits must meet, and details of how they would be purchased. The move would in effect ease the emissions cuts - and the investments required - from European industries needed to hit the 90% emissions-cutting target. For the share of the target met by credits, the EU would buy "credits" from projects that reduce CO2 emissions abroad - for example, forest restoration in Brazil - rather than reducing emissions in Europe. Proponents say these credits are a crucial way to raise funds for CO2-cutting projects in developing nations. But recent scandals have shown some credit-generating projects did not deliver the climate benefits they claimed. The document said the Commission will add other flexibilities to the 90% target, as Brussels attempts to contain resistance from governments struggling to fund the green transition alongside priorities including defence, and industries who say ambitious environmental regulations hurt their competitiveness. These include integrating credits from projects that remove CO2 from the atmosphere into the EU's carbon market so that European industries can buy these credits to offset some of their own emissions, the document said. The draft would also give countries more flexibility on which sectors in their economy do the heavy lifting to meet the 2040 goal, "to support the achievement of targets in a cost-effective way". A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the upcoming proposal, which could still change before it is published next week. EU countries and the European Parliament must negotiate the final target and could amend what the Commission proposes.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Blow for Starmer as five EU countries oppose ‘one in, one out' migrant deal with France
Five EU countries have criticised a proposed 'one in, one out' migration deal between France and Britain, saying it could see asylum seekers returned to their shores instead. Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron are working on an agreement that would reportedly see Britain return small boat migrants to France in exchange for asylum seekers with families ties in the UK. The precise terms of the deal are still being worked out but Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus have already sounded the alarm on the proposed plans. The Financial Times reported that the five nations have sent a letter to the European Commission objecting to the 'one in one out' policy. The letter reads: 'We take note - with a degree of surprise - of the reported intention of France to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement. If confirmed, such an initiative raises serious concerns for us, both procedurally and in terms of potential implications for other member states, particularly those of first entry'. The five nations have objected to the UK and France working on a deal separately to a whole EU-UK reset deal. Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus are often the first European countries that migrants who travel by irregular routes arrive at. They are reportedly concerned that France could use existing EU rules, which allow asylum seekers to be returned to the first country of entry, to pass on asylum seekers accepted from Britain. The letter continued: 'We believe it is essential to clarify whether the agreement may produce any direct or indirect consequences for other member states'. Mr Macron is due to visit London in early July and the UK-France deal was due to be unveiled at the summit.
