Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a US state, Denmark’s foreign minister said.
“We fully recognize that Greenland has its ambitions. If they materialize, Greenland will become independent, though hardly with an ambition to become a federal state in the United States,” Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
He told reporters the United States’ heightened security concerns in the Arctic were legitimate following increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
“I don’t think that we’re in a foreign policy crisis,” he said. “We are open to a dialogue with the Americans on how we can cooperate even more closely than we do to ensure that the American ambitions are fulfilled.”
Greenland’s leader met with the Danish king in Copenhagen, a day after Trump’s remarks thrust the fate of the mineral-rich and strategically important island, which is under Danish rule, to the top of world headlines.
Greenland, part of NATO through the membership of Denmark, has strategic significance for the US military and its ballistic missile early-warning system since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the Arctic island.
The president-elect has indicated he would pursue a more combative foreign policy that disregards traditional diplomatic formalities.
Greenland, the world’s biggest island, has been part of Denmark for 600 years although its 57,000 people now govern their domestic affairs.
