Nielsen also praised Denmark as a close partner throughout the crisis. He has previously indicated that, if compelled to choose between the United States and Denmark, Greenlanders would opt for Denmark.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has cautioned that, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s public rejection of military action, Washington’s underlying objective remains control over the Arctic island, Reuters reports.
President Trump has since distanced himself from earlier threats of force, instead claiming to have secured full U.S. access to Greenland through a NATO agreement, although the specifics of such an arrangement have not been made public.
“US Continues Seeking Paths to Ownership,” says PM Nielsen
“The view upon Greenland and the population has not changed: Greenland is to be tied to the U.S. and governed from there,” Nielsen said in a speech to the island’s parliament in Nuuk.
Nielsen said the U.S. continues seeking “paths to ownership and control over Greenland”.
Mental Health Crisis: The Human Cost of Geopolitical Uncertainty
Greenland’s government announced last week that it had initiated a survey to assess the mental health of the population, citing the extraordinary pressures currently facing the island.
“Some of our compatriots have severe sleep problems, children feel the worry and anxiety of adults, and we all live with constant uncertainty about what may happen tomorrow,” Nielsen said.
“We want to say it very clearly: This is completely unacceptable”.
Crisis Diplomacy: Negotiations Between the US, Denmark, and Greenland
Diplomatic talks between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland began last week with senior officials meeting to “discuss how we can address American concerns about security in the Arctic while respecting the Kingdom’s red lines,” Denmark’s foreign ministry said.
Nielsen also praised Denmark as a close partner throughout the crisis. He has previously indicated that, if compelled to choose between the United States and Denmark, Greenlanders would opt for Denmark.
Notably, his recent address did not reference the issue of Greenlandic independence.
Inuit Values vs. Sovereignty: The Conflict of Land Ownership Concepts
For Greenland’s Inuit population, the ongoing debate over sovereignty stands in contrast to deeply held cultural values. Greenlandic law permits individuals to own their homes, but not the land itself, a principle rooted in the Inuit tradition of collective land stewardship.
