Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for failing to treat Greenlanders with respect, stating that his actions have distanced the island’s people from the United States.
“We deserve to be treated with respect, and I don’t believe the U.S. president has done that recently. His recent actions have made people less inclined to move closer to the U.S. than they might have in the past,” Egede was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He emphasized the need to strengthen ties with nations that respect Greenland’s vision for its future. “We must set clear boundaries and prioritize relationships with countries that acknowledge and support our aspirations,” he added.
Egede has consistently asserted that Greenland, home to just 57,000 people, belongs to its inhabitants and that they alone should decide its future.
Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, has been the focus of renewed U.S. interest since Trump’s second term began, with the president making promises of prosperity to the island.
“We will continue to keep you safe, as we have since World War II. We are prepared to invest billions of dollars to create new jobs and bring you wealth,” Trump wrote.
The island, whose capital Nuuk is geographically closer to New York than to Copenhagen, possesses significant reserves of minerals, oil, and natural gas but remains underdeveloped.
Earlier this month, Trump made it clear that the U.S. is determined to acquire Greenland.
“We fully support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America… One way or another, we’re going to get it,” he stated.
