Greenlandâs Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede called a recent delegation visiting from the U.S. that included second lady Usha Vance, âvery aggressive.â
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.
âUntil recently, we could safely rely on the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we liked to work closely,â Egede told the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday. âBut 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.â
âThe 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,â 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 nationâs population oppose U.S. annexation.
The leader of Greenlandâs center-right Demokraatit party, Jens-Frederik Nielson, who supports Greenlandâs full independence, told Sermitsiaq that the U.S. has shown a âlack of respectâ to Greenland.
âThe fact that the Americans know we are in the middle of coalition talks and havenât even completed the municipal election, but still choose this moment to visit Greenland, once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people,â Nielsen said.
Egede called on the countryâs leaders to reject Americaâs stance and for the Greenlandâs allies to more forcefully defend them.
âWe 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,â Egede said. âWe must therefore face the seriousness of the situation and recognize that every single minute counts for the Americansâ dream of annexing our country not to become a reality.â
Egede further said that the U.S. is violating Greenlandâs sovereignty and them as a people.
âNothing has come through with the Trump administration,â Egede said. âOn 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.â
The Hill further reported that Egede disliked national security adviser Mike Waltz accompanying Usha Vance.
âWhat is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,â Egede said in the newspaper interview. âHis mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trumpâs mission â and the pressure will increase.â
