Greenland PM Meeting with Danish King Postponed Amid Trump Junior's Upcoming Visit
In a surprising turn of events, a meeting between Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede and Denmark's King Frederik has been postponed, as confirmed by the Danish royal palace. While the palace did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation, PM Egede attributed it to 'calendar gymnastics' in a discussion with the news agency Ritzau.
The rescheduling coincides with a backdrop of heightened rhetoric surrounding a potential U.S. takeover of Greenland, particularly following comments from president-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office on January 20. In light of these developments, Trump has announced that his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., will be visiting Greenland two weeks after his father suggested that the U.S. should consider annexing the autonomous Danish territory. 'My son Don Jr. and various representatives will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights,' Trump stated on his Truth Social platform. He further declared, 'Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our Nation. We will protect it and cherish it from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN,' he fervently posted.
This latest turn of events comes after Egede's New Year speech, where he emphasized the necessity of taking the next step for Greenland, a land with shades of colonial past versus its desires for autonomy. A senior Greenlandic foreign affairs official, Minnguaq Kleist, informed Danish national broadcaster DR that an advance team for Trump Jr.'s visit was scheduled to arrive in Nuuk on Tuesday. However, Kleist noted that the trip is private, and no formal approach has been made to the Greenlandic government regarding the visit.
Despite the unofficial nature of this American visit, reports have surfaced indicating that Trump Jr. is expected to meet Erik Jensen, the leader of the governing Siumut party and finance minister in Greenland, although Jensen has not confirmed the meeting.
Adding to the complexities of this political drama, the Danish foreign ministry mentioned it had acknowledged Trump Jr.'s planned visit but stated, 'As it is not an official American visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has no further comment.'
Previously, Trump made headlines around Christmas with his assertions that control of Greenland is critical for national security and freedom throughout the world. This statement was met with firm resistance from Greenland's government, which reiterated that the island is not for sale, following similar sentiments expressed in 2019 when Trump first suggested acquiring Greenland.
The conversation further intensified when U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and X Twitter, entered the dialogue, asserting on social media that Greenlanders desire to become part of the United States. Musk has recently become increasingly vocal in the political arena in various countries, including the UK and Germany, often siding with far-right parties.
On Trump's Truth Social, a video surfaced where a man in a red 'Make America Great Again' cap expresses a wish for the U.S. to buy Greenland, framing it as a means of liberating it from Danish colonization. However, the video's context—who the speaker is or when it was recorded—remains unclear.
Greenland, as the world's largest island, is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of around 56,000. It operates its own parliament and administration, currently under the leadership of Prime Minister Egede. Two members of the Danish parliament are elected from Greenland and another autonomous region, the Faroe Islands.
Amid extensive discussions surrounding Trump's ambitions, Aaja Chemnitz, one of Greenland's representatives in the Danish parliament, conveyed strong sentiments against Trump's desire for control over Greenland. In a Facebook post, Chemnitz stated that there needs to be a rejection of Trump's overtures. 'I think there are many ways to say no to Trump, and it's clearly something we need to get better at,' she expressed, stressing how naive it is to think that happiness could be achieved through American citizenship. She firmly stated, 'No, thank you,' underlining her desire not to be a pawn in Trump’s ambitions. Moreover, Chemnitz implored her fellow Greenlanders not to let American political maneuvers overshadow the upcoming elections, warning that the public could end up as the primary losers in this geopolitical game.
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