Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede called a recent delegation visiting from the U.S. that included second lady Usha Vance, “very aggressive.”
According to The Hill, Egede slammed the trip, saying that it was an attempt to put more pressure on the Arctic Island to be taken over by the U.S. and move away from being a Danish territory.
“Until recently, we could safely rely on the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we liked to work closely,” Egede told the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday. “But that time is over, we have to admit that, because the new American leadership is completely and utterly indifferent to what we have stood together on so far, because now it is only a matter of them taking over our country over our heads.”
“The very aggressive American pressure against Greenlandic society is now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher. The only purpose is to show a show of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood,” Egede said.
Greenland is self-governing but relies on Denmark for foreign affairs and financial aid and is rich in minerals. The Hill further reported that a recent vote by Greenlanders showed a good majority of the nation’s population oppose U.S. annexation.
The leader of Greenland’s center-right Demokraatit party, Jens-Frederik Nielson, who supports Greenland’s full independence, told Sermitsiaq that the U.S. has shown a “lack of respect” to Greenland.
“The fact that the Americans know we are in the middle of coalition talks and haven’t even completed the municipal election, but still choose this moment to visit Greenland, once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people,” Nielsen said.
Egede called on the country’s leaders to reject America’s stance and for the Greenland’s allies to more forcefully defend them.
“We have tried all diplomatic and democratic options, but it all bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to come to own and control Greenland,” Egede said. “We must therefore face the seriousness of the situation and recognize that every single minute counts for the Americans’ dream of annexing our country not to become a reality.”
Egede further said that the U.S. is violating Greenland’s sovereignty and them as a people.
“Nothing has come through with the Trump administration,” Egede said. “On the contrary, they are increasing the pressure with each passing day, and now the international community, at least those we consider friends and allies, must step in instead of small hesitant declarations of support.”
The Hill further reported that Egede disliked national security adviser Mike Waltz accompanying Usha Vance.
“What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Egede said in the newspaper interview. “His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission — and the pressure will increase.”
