Latest news with #Egede
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Denmark and Greenland show united front against US 'annexation' threats
Denmark will not give up Greenland to the US, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said during an official visit to the Arctic to repeated threats from Donald Trump, Frederiksen offered closer collaboration on security but told the US president: "You can't annex other countries."Frederiksen stood alongside Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and his predecessor Mute Egede in a show of support and unity in the face of US threats on three-day trip to the territory follows last week's controversial visit by a US delegation headed up by Vice President JD Vance, which was widely criticised in both Greenland and Denmark. During his whirlwind trip, Vance reiterated Trump's ambitions to bring Greenland under United States' control for security reasons, criticised Denmark for not spending more on security in the region, and claimed it had "not done a good job" for arriving in Greenland on Wednesday, Frederiksen said: "It is clear that with the pressure put on Greenland by the Americans, in terms of sovereignty, borders and the future, we need to stay united."Frederiksen said on Thursday that Denmark was fortifying its military presence in the Arctic and offered closer collaboration with the United States in defending the she added: "When you demand to take over a part of... Denmark's territory, when we are met by pressure and by threats from our closest ally, what are we to believe in, about the country that we have admired for so many years?"Frederiksen rode around the capital Nuuk in a Danish navy patrol boat, alongside Egede and to Danish public broadcaster DR, many people cheered at seeing the Danish prime minister, with one resident shouting from a window: "Hey Mette! Thanks for being here."Egede, who served as prime minister for almost four years, said the island had cooperated with the US on security for almost 80 years - including the construction of the Pituffik Space Base following a 1951 agreement between Denmark and the United States. The former leader insisted Greenland was not for sale, but added the island wanted trade with the US, Greenlandic national newspaper Sermitsiaq first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his first term - and his desire to own the island has only grown with Engell, an expert on the Arctic territory who previously served as Denmark's High Commissioner to Greenland, told AFP news agency "it's very, very important and it's very reassuring for Greenlanders to see a Danish head of government."Greenland - the world's biggest island, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans - has been controlled by Denmark, nearly 3,000km (1,860 miles) away, for about 300 governs its own domestic affairs, but decisions on foreign and defence policy are made in of the six main parties favour independence from Copenhagen, but disagree over the pace with which to reach it.A new Greenland coalition government was formed in March, led by the centre-right Democrats party which favours a gradual approach to show that the vast majority of Greenlanders also want to become independent from Denmark, but do not wish to become part of the 2009, Greenland has had the right to call an independence referendum, though in recent years some political parties have begun pushing more for one.
Euronews
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
If we give up on territorial integrity we open a Pandora's box, Costa warns amid Greenland tensions
ADVERTISEMENT If Europe makes any concession on the question of territorial territory, it will risk opening a Pandora's box with worldwide repercussions, António Costa has warned amid rising tensions with the United States over the future of Greenland. "We should respect, first, the territorial integrity of Denmark and we must respect the self-determination right of the people of Greenland," the president of the European Council said on Tuesday. "This is of utmost importance, not only for Europe but for all over the world," he added. "If we give up on territorial integrity, we open up a Pandora's box in the world, from Asia to (the) Americas." Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is back in the spotlight after Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance, announced her intention to visit the island and make a series of cultural stops, such as attending the national dog-sled race. The second lady is set to arrive on Thursday. The US delegation will also include Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, and Chris Wright, the energy secretary, travelling separately. The visit has brought back fears that the US, under the leadership of Donald Trump, will seek to annex Greenland. Trump has refused to rule out using economic coercion and military force to seize the sprawling territory, considered highly strategic over its location in the Arctic Sea and its rich deposits of mineral resources. Trump's threat has put the EU on edge and strained the transatlantic alliance, which is already being tested over another territorial dispute: Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "The respect of the internationally recognised borders is a universal principle," Costa said in his intervention at an event organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC). "We should respect the sovereignty and self-determination of the different peoples and this is essential to live in the rules-based order," he went on. "The alternative of the rules-based order is chaos and chaos is very dangerous for humanity, for business (and) for the future. We need to preserve a rules-based order and then, everything can work." Costa's warning comes on the heels of critical remarks made by the prime minister of Greenland, Múte Egede, and the prime minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, both of whom went on their record to depict Usha Vance's visit as unwelcome and inappropriate. Calling the trip "highly aggressive" and "in no way" harmless, Egede took particular exception to the presence on the trip of Mike Waltz, the national security advisor. "What is the security advisor doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood," Egede said. Frederiksen referred to Egede's comments in an interview on Tuesday, saying that it was "clear that when you make a visit in this way, and the Greenlandic politicians clearly say that they do not want the visit, you cannot interpret it as respectful." "I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist," Frederiksen told Danish media . ADVERTISEMENT "You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country." Trump says the visit is about "friendliness, not provocation" but continues to frame his interest in the island through the lenses of national and international security, reinforcing the impression that a military invasion is not entirely off the table. "I think Greenland's going to be something that maybe is in our future. I think it's important (for) international security, Trump said on Monday. " It cannot go on the way it is. It's not going to go on the way it is." ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about Greenland — and why Trump wants it — ahead of JD and Usha Vance's visit today
Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and a delegation of high-ranking Trump administration officials — including national security adviser Mike Waltz — are expected to arrive in Greenland Friday to visit a U.S. military base in the Arctic territory, which President Trump has repeatedly insisted should become part of the United States. Usha Vance announced last week that she would be traveling to Greenland to 'visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage' in the capital city of Nuuk and attend a national dog race. A few days later, Vice President Vance said he would be joining the multi-day trip "to check out how things are going there." But the U.S. delegation revised its itinerary amid backlash from Greenlandic and Danish officials, including Múte Bourup Egede, Greenland's prime minister, who had warned against 'American aggression' after the trip was announced. 'We must … face the seriousness of the situation and acknowledge that every minute counts to ensure that the Americans' dream of annexing our country does not become a reality,' Egede told a local newspaper on Sunday. 'What is the security adviser doing in Greenland?' Egede continued. 'The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us … and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit.' Trump has set his sights on annexing Greenland since returning to the White House. 'We have to do it,' he said during a joint meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier this month. 'We really need it for national security.' For now, Greenland belongs to Denmark. Though the island was treated as a colony for hundreds of years, its citizens have had authority over what happens within its borders since the late 1970s. That freedom includes the power to decide whether it wants to remain a part of Denmark, join the U.S. or become an independent nation. Trump first floated the concept of acquiring Greenland during his first presidential term, but there has been much more sustained focus on the concept since he returned to the White House in January. He has repeatedly made the case for bringing the island under U.S. influence but has given mixed answers on how far he's willing to go to make it happen. His joint address to Congress earlier this month included a message 'for the incredible people of Greenland' in which he said he strongly supports their 'right to determine your own future.' But about 20 seconds later, he said he thinks the U.S. will acquire the territory 'one way or another.' Earlier this year, he refused to rule out taking Greenland by force. For their part, Greenlanders appear to have little interest in joining the U.S. voluntarily. Polls show that 85% of the island's citizens oppose the idea, and nearly half of them see Trump's interest in Greenland 'as a threat.' Egede has bluntly stated, 'We don't want to be Americans.' The island will soon have new leadership, but its position on U.S. annexation won't change. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the likely choice to replace Egede, is seeking a different path for his country. 'We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our own independence in the future,' he said Thursday. Greenland is not a major economic power, nor does it have a strong military to bolster U.S. forces. Its population is tiny and clearly wouldn't welcome American ownership with open arms. So why does Trump want it so badly, to the point where he's floated military action against a NATO ally to get it? While many maps tend to exaggerate Greenland's size, it's still massive — at 836,330 square miles, it's more than three times the size of Texas. It's considered to be the world's largest island and, on its own, would be the 12th-largest nation on Earth. It is also the least densely populated territory on the planet. More than 80% of its 56,000 residents occupy about a dozen towns along its coast; its vast, icy interior is essentially uninhabited. Adding Greenland would allow the U.S. to leapfrog Canada and become the second-largest country in the world — though it would still be a distant second to Russia. Not only is Greenland big, it's also in a highly strategic area. Key sea routes that connect Northern Europe to North America run along its coastline, making it a critical location for managing both international shipping and military power in the Arctic. The fabled Northwest Passage to the northern edge of Canada and the Arctic Bridge route, which connects Scandinavia and Russia to North America's East Coast, both hug Greenland's southern tip. Greenland is also home to an American military missile defense base located far north of the Arctic Circle, a prime position to monitor — or potentially intercept — any Russian rockets headed toward the U.S. mainland. Because of climate change, which has made many areas of the Arctic impossible to navigate due to melting ice, Greenland's position will only become more important. Within the next 25 years, experts predict that enough ice will melt to open up the Transpolar Sea Route, a shipping lane that would cut straight across the North Pole and create a more efficient path between Asia and the Atlantic. America and its allies are already jockeying with Russia and, to a certain extent, China over control of this swiftly evolving area of the globe. Owning Greenland would give the U.S. an enormous advantage in this geopolitical tug-of-war. Like the sea ice that surrounds it, the ice that blankets Greenland's vast interior is also melting. Nearly 2,000 square miles' worth of ice has disappeared from the island's surface over the past four decades. NASA refers to Greenland as a 'canary in a coal mine' for climate change. Greenland's melting ice is one the biggest drivers of global sea level rise. It's also causing a key ocean current known as the 'great global ocean conveyor belt' to slow down, which could have huge implications for weather around the world. But where climate experts see reasons to worry about Greenland's ice melt, others see opportunity. That's because Greenland is home to huge yet largely untapped stores of rare earth minerals needed to make a wide range of high-tech products — everything from smartphones to computers to fighter jets to green energy technologies. The U.S. used to be the world's top producer of rare earth minerals. Today it's China. To counter China's dominance, U.S. leaders have moved to increase its own mineral mining while also working to open up foreign sources for the materials. Greenland's receding ice could set off a mineral 'gold rush' as large deposits of high-value minerals become accessible for the first time. Greenland currently puts strict limits on mining within its territory and has banned oil and gas extraction entirely over environmental concerns. Having full command of the island could give the U.S. the power to roll back those restrictions, make larger swaths of the island available for development and seize a larger share of the profits that result. Many Greenlanders see a ramped-up mining industry as a key to their economic future, but even local support might not be enough to turn the dream of a mineral windfall into a reality. Foreigners have been coming to Greenland seeking to extract its riches for centuries, only to be turned away by its harsh terrain and brutal climate. Some experts believe that even with modern technology, tapping Greenland's mineral resources may be too difficult and expensive to make large-scale mining economically viable.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trump reiterates urgency of acquiring Greenland as JD Vance prepares to visit
Listen to article United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his desire for the US to take control of Greenland, calling the territory essential for national security. His comments come just ahead of a controversial visit to the Danish autonomous territory by Vice President JD Vance. In an interview on Wednesday, Trump stated, "We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it." He emphasised the strategic importance of the island, citing its defensive capabilities as critical amidst rising global tensions. Since returning to office in January, Trump has repeatedly advocated for US control over Greenland, suggesting that military force could be an option, despite the territory's long-standing governance by Denmark. "It's not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth, not just the United States, without it," Trump asserted. Greenland, situated between North America and Europe, is increasingly important due to growing interest from the US, China, and Russia in the Arctic region. The territory also possesses untapped mineral and oil reserves that could significantly impact global trade dynamics. When asked if he believed the people of Greenland were interested in joining the US, Trump responded, "I think we have to do it and convince them." He added, "We have to have that land because it's not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth without it." The statements come as US officials plan their visit, initially intended to coincide with a dog-sled race but now including a stop at a military base. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has expressed concerns that the trip represents "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland to consider ceding its territory to the US. The planned visit by Vice President Vance will mark him as the highest-ranking US official to travel to Greenland, a move Danish officials have cautiously welcomed, given the changing itinerary. Earlier, Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede condemned the upcoming visit of US Second Lady Usha Vance and other senior American officials as a 'provocation.' Speaking to Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq, Egede said the visit by Waltz in particular was 'highly aggressive' and served no purpose other than to assert pressure on the territory. 'The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood,' Egede said.
Iraqi News
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Denmark welcomes US limiting Greenland visit to military base
Copenhagen – Denmark welcomed on Wednesday Washington's decision to limit a US delegation's visit to Greenland to a US military base, after previous plans for the unexpected trip sparked criticism. US Vice President JD Vance announced Tuesday that he would accompany his wife Usha on Friday to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, the Danish self-governing island coveted by President Donald Trump. Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants to take over Greenland for national security purposes, refusing to rule out the use of force to do so. Vance's announcement came just hours after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede harshly criticised plans by a US delegation to visit the Arctic island uninvited. Egede had qualified the initial plans as 'foreign interference', noting that the outgoing government had not 'sent out any invitations for visits, private or official'. Following March 11 elections, Greenland has only a transitional government, with parties still in negotiations to form a new coalition government. 'We have asked all countries to respect this process,' Egede had said in a Facebook post. Yet the White House announced Sunday that Usha Vance would travel to Greenland from Thursday to Saturday, while Egede had said US national security adviser Mike Waltz was also expected to take part. US media had reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright would be part of the visit as well. Usha Vance had been scheduled to view 'historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage and watch the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race,' in the southwestern town of Sisimiut, the White House had said. Frederiksen denounced that visit as 'unacceptable pressure' being put on Greenland and Denmark, and vowed 'to resist'. – 'Very positive' – JD Vance said in a video statement that he and Usha would travel only to the Pituffik base to visit US Space Force members based there and 'check out what's going on with the security' of Greenland. 'I think it's very positive that the Americans have cancelled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that,' Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told public broadcaster DR on Wednesday. 'The cars (from the US advance security detail) that were delivered a few days ago are in the process of being sent back home, and the wife of the US vice president and the national security adviser will not visit Greenlandic society,' Lokke Rasmussen said. 'The matter is being wound up and that's positive,' he added. A US Hercules plane later took off from Nuuk airport, according to flight tracking website Marc Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, said the US change of plan was a 'de-escalation' aimed at saving face after Danish and Greenlandic leaders made it clear the US officials were not welcome. Locals in Sisimiut, Greenland's second-biggest town of 5,500 people, had announced a protest during Usha Vance's visit, following another anti-US protest outside the US consulate in Nuuk on March 15. 'They didn't want to risk… photos being shown to US voters on social media,' Jacobsen told AFP. Jacobsen also dismissed Vance's claims in his video announcement that other countries were trying to use the territory to 'threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and, of course, to threaten the people of Greenland'. 'The only country threatening Greenland, that's actually the US,' Jacobsen said. 'If he meant China or Russia, they're not threatening Greenland. They have no interest in attacking Greenland.' A self-governing territory that is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen, Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, though oil and uranium exploration are banned. It is also strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change. Greenland's location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. Greenlandic officials have repeatedly said the territory does not want to be either Danish or American, but is 'open for business' with everyone. According to opinion polls, most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark but not annexation by Washington.
