Greenland to Trump: Not for sale but let’s talk business

Greenland is ready to talk.

Monday’s response to the diplomatic earthquake caused by President-elect Donald J. Trump last week I thought about taking charge On the giant island in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland’s Prime Minister said the region wants to work more closely with the United States on defense and natural resources.

“The reality is that we will work with the United States — yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Prime Minister Moti Egedi said at a news conference in Nuuk, the small, ice-covered capital of Greenland.

But he was firm: Greenlanders did not want to become Americans.

“We have to be very smart about the way we act,” he said, adding that “power struggles between the great powers are escalating and are now knocking on our doors.”

Mr. Trump He refused to rule out the use of economic or military force To restore the Panama Canal and seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark which he proposed to purchase during his first term in office. Then, as now, Greenland and Denmark said the island was not for sale. Panama’s leaders also rejected this threat.

“We were all shocked” by Mr. Trump’s words, which were exacerbated by the sudden and somewhat mysterious visit by the president-elect’s eldest son, Mr. Egede said Monday. Donald Trump JrTo the island on the same day.

The younger Mr. Trump took a quick sightseeing tour, saying he was on private business, and since then, Greenland has made headlines around the world.

Most of Greenland is covered in ice, only about 56,000 people live here, and until recently, the island was famous for its icebergs and polar bears. As climate change melts the ice in the Arctic, this region has quietly fallen into the reach of global powers.

The United States, Russia, European countries, China and others are eyeing Arctic shipping lanes and vast mineral resources that are no longer considered out of reach.

The island has been associated with Denmark for centuries, first as a colony and now as a separate region that has achieved a significant degree of autonomy in recent years. Denmark still controls the island’s foreign affairs and defense policy.

But the growing interest of international powers is consistent with Greenland’s quest for independence, and this desire for independence has increased. At the same time, many people here are reluctant to completely sever ties with Denmark because of the hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies Denmark provides each year.

In Nuuk, where the temperature was a sunny zero Fahrenheit on Monday afternoon, many people were anxiously waiting to hear what the Prime Minister had to say.

“No matter what happens, there will be no going back,” said Afiak Kleist, a café owner in Nok Centre, the city’s largest shopping mall, which houses dozens of stores. She joked that Mr. Egede might suddenly declare independence.

But Mr. Egede did not do so, he wavered on the question, saying that the country was working steadily towards achieving the goal but “different parties have different views.” (There is also a clear independence process that includes holding a referendum, if one occurs.)

The Prime Minister also expressed his satisfaction with the comments made by J.D. Vance, the incoming Vice President Fox News show this weekend. Although Mr. Vance did not completely rule out military force, saying “we don’t have to use military force” because “we already have forces in Greenland,” his tone was optimistic when he spoke of Greenland’s “incredible natural resources.” And “a deal will be made.”

The United States has been interested in Greenland for years. During World War II, it established bases here, and after the war it tried to buy Greenland from Denmark, which refused. Today, it is run by the US Army Petovic Space BaseIt specializes in missile defense at the northern end of the island.

In Nuuk on Monday, people seemed on the same page with the prime minister, expressing a mixture of hope and caution. Many of them said they did not want to be swallowed up by the United States. But they wanted a stronger partnership with America.

“What we really need is more cooperation and trade,” said Nilserak Berthelsen, a fisherman. He worked at a snow-covered seafood market, selling large pieces of whale skin and bright red seal meat.

He said he was walking in another mall last week when someone suddenly approached him and invited him to a private dinner.

The next thing he knew, he said, he was shaking the younger Trump’s hand.

“He had a lot of enthusiasm,” said Mr. Berthelsen, who stood in the air so cold that his eyes watered as he spoke. “He had good energy.”

Evik Christiansen contributed reporting.