Greenland leader says 'we don't want to be Americans'

(CLO) Greenland's Prime Minister, Mr. Múte B. Egede, affirmed that the islanders do not want to become part of the United States, he emphasized: "We do not want to become Americans".

Mr. Egede expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with Washington, but stressed that Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people.

Wooden houses line a small bay in Sisimiut, Greenland. Photo: David Stanley

President-elect Donald Trump has previously proposed that the United States purchase Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump said that owning Greenland is important for national security and freedom, and did not rule out the use of force or economic pressure to achieve this goal.

The proposal has raised concerns not only in Denmark but across Europe, especially as Denmark is an important US ally and a leading member of NATO.

Greenland, with a population of about 57,000, is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas and rare earth elements. Its strategic location in the Arctic has attracted interest from many countries, including Russia and China, as climate change melts the ice, opening up access to these resources.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has rejected the idea of ​​selling Greenland, stating: "Greenland is not for sale. Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland." She also stressed the importance of maintaining unity within the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Greenlanders have reacted strongly to Mr Trump’s proposal, with many expressing outrage and concerns about the loss of cultural identity and self-determination. Some residents of the capital Nuuk called the idea “outrageous” and “unacceptable”.

In this context, Prime Minister Egede reaffirmed his desire to achieve full independence from Denmark, saying that it was time for Greenland to decide its own future and choose its cooperation partners. However, he also acknowledged that achieving full independence would require addressing current economic challenges, as Greenland remains heavily dependent on financial support from Denmark.

Other countries have also weighed in on the issue. France warned the US not to threaten the European Union's "sovereign borders", while Russia said it was closely monitoring Mr Trump's statements about buying Greenland.

Hong Hanh (according to NPR, Newsweek)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lanh-dao-greenland-noi-chung-toi-khong-muon-tro-thanh-nguoi-my-post329930.html