Prime Minister says he is unaware of draft details between Trump and NATO, criticizes exclusion in negotiations and warns that he will not give up the island’s sovereignty
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated this Thursday (22) that there are nonnegotiable limits for the autonomous island when discussing a possible agreement with the United States, including its sovereignty, territorial integrity and standards established by international law. “These are red lines that we don’t want to cross,” he said, at a press conference this afternoon.
Nielsen denied having knowledge of any details of the draft agreement reached yesterday by US President Donald Trump and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Mark Rutte. According to him, the discussion probably involved common objectives for both allies, but the terms are still to be negotiated.
“I don’t know what is concrete about this agreement with the US,” said the prime minister, adding that he now has teams working on negotiations to resolve tensions. “The desire to control our island still seemed to exist until yesterday, but respectful dialogue is something we have sought from the beginning and now it appears other parties want it as well.”
Nielsen stressed that no one has the authority to negotiate and close an agreement on behalf of Greenland or Denmark without their representatives being involved, in an apparent veiled criticism of the previous day’s announcement. Asked more than once, the prime minister repeated that he “does not know” what the terms of the US-NATO draft entail or whether there were discussions about critical minerals and the establishment of military bases on the island.
Harbor and mountain are reflected in a window in Nuuk, Greenland
The Greenland leader highlighted that he is willing to expand NATO’s participation and even install special missions of the military alliance, but did not comment on whether he would do the same with the US presence in the region. “I want to discuss the Golden Dome and similar plans respectfully, but through the right channels and in a respectful manner,” he said. “Safety in the Arctic is something everyone agrees on.”
Nielsen was categorical that defending Greenland’s sovereignty is about “maintaining world order” and resolving conflicts through diplomacy. “We are hopeful and want to maintain a good relationship with the USA, but it is difficult with threats every day”, he pointed out.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nícolas Robert
