Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called on NATO allies to unite to defend international law as he hit back at US President Donald Trump's latest comments on the Arctic island, Reuters writes on Thursday.
Trump expressed his frustration with NATO's refusal to get involved in the war against Iran that it has waged with Israel, saying in a social media post that the military alliance was not there when it was needed and would not be there “if we need them again.”
“REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, BADLY MANAGED BLOCK OF ICE,” Trump wrote in his trademark all-caps style in a message posted on Truth Social.
Nielsen rejected this characterization of the island.
“We are not some kind of piece of ice. We are a proud population of 57,000 people, working every day as good citizens of the world with full respect for all our allies,” the Greenlandic prime minister told the international news agency.
Nielsen emphasized the importance of maintaining the post-war geopolitical order, including the NATO defense alliance and globally respected international law.
“These things are being contested now and I think all allies should stick together to try to maintain them. I hope that will happen,” he added.
Greenland, reluctant to US intentions
NATO countries already struggled earlier this year to find ways to keep the alliance together after Trump renewed his efforts to seize Greenland from Denmark, another NATO member.
In January, the White House said Trump was considering military force over Greenland, prompting Germany, France and other European countries to send small contingents of troops to the island as a show of solidarity and deterrence.
Trump later backtracked on talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, saying the “framework for a future agreement” had been set, which refocused the Greenland conflict on a diplomatic track.
His latest online post about the island, in which he accused “mismanagement”, came at a new meeting with Rutte, which took place behind closed doors at the White House on Wednesday.
Towards the end of January, Greenland, Denmark and the US initiated diplomatic talks, which Nielsen said were still ongoing, with more meetings scheduled.
Trump and his supporters have insisted that the US needs Greenland to fend off threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region, and that Denmark cannot provide security for the island.
The United States already has a base on the island and the ability to expand its presence there under a 1951 treaty.
“It would be strange, when all sides want to talk about increased defense cooperation, not to look at that (1951, no) agreement,” Nielsen said, declining to provide further details on what is being discussed in the talks.
Despite the talk, Nielsen made it clear that he does not believe Trump has abandoned his ambitions for the island. “I don't see that his desire to take over or control Greenland has been taken off the table,” he said.
