Greenland is the largest non-continental island in the world, and it takes up the place of the head of President Donald Trump.
Since 2019, Trump has introduced the idea of acquiring a sovereign Danish terrain in the name of national security and economic interests. The idea was short when Trump first raised it, but returned to the end of last year.
When Trump’s proposal turned into a more urgent tune, at a press conference on January 7, at a press conference in Mar-e-Lago By refusing to cancel The idea of using military power to capture the control of Greenland.
Even more recently, According to the Financial TimesTrump spoke to Denmark’s Prime Minister Mate Fredericksen in a “horror” call where he threatened the tariff. “The purpose was very clear. They want it. Dance is now in crisis mode, “A European official told the Financial Times.
The new stimulus has been driven behind Trump’s pressure for the acquisition of Greenland, at least partly, by its clear geopolitical significance. Greenland rests between the main shipping routes that melt and the new trade route has grown and it has become increasingly important and it sits on top of the main deposits of oil, gas and rare earth minerals, which is essential for everyday technology.
Greenland is also at the forefront of an ongoing arctic power fight, as Russia and China increase their trade, mines and military presence in the region.
Surprisingly, the leaders of Denmark and Greenland – who have their own parliament and the Prime Minister, are different from Denmark – have strongly pushed against US expansionism and rejected Trump’s decision.
“We are not for sale and we are not a product,” Naza H. Nathanielsen, Greenland’s business, trade, mineral resources, justice and gender equality minister, told Vox. “We have many friends in the United States, so we are American allies. But we are not Americans and don’t want to be American. We want to be a resident of Greenland. ”
Nathanielsen speaks to Today, has been explained Greenland’s growing strategic importance, Host Noel King is about how Greenland people see Trump’s statement and what can actually do to work with the United States.
Below is a part of their conversation, edited for length and precision. There is more to the full podcast, so listen Today, has been explained Wherever you will find your podcast, including Apple Podcast, PandoraAnd Spotify.
Noel King
I imagine that many of our audiences will never go to Greenland. Can you tell me a little about it like it?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Well, I think a lot of people come here are surprised by two things. One thing is certainly the beauty of nature. Everything is huge and huge, mountains, fajords and those. But another thing, I think that what has affected many people is quite modern. I think you often think Greenland is something where some people live and there is not much activity, but our cities look like many others. It will be recognized for many people.
Noel King
And what kind of people are Greenland people?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
We Inuit. We are indigenous. So we consist of – I think 90 percent of the population, most people here are Greenlander with inuit roots. We also have a lot of people from Nordic countries and Asia. However, the population is initially formed by inuit.
Noel King
So we have a beautiful country where there is a very modern city. If someone plans a visit and wants to know what was really important, what should they know?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Well, they should know that Greenland is a Modern democracyWe have our own government, we have our own parliament. We have a mineral sector. We have tourism. We have a Fishing. So these are our primary income. And also, you should know that the greenland culture is very lively and rich, although we are Only 55,000 people. So have many songs, there are many plays, Many cultural activitiesWhich is quite impressive for such a small population.
Noel King
In the first half of our program, we were reminded that Donald Trump was actually talking about Greenland since 2019. Can I ask what you thought of when you first heard your country as a single time?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Okay, at the beginning, I think we were surprised about the offer of buying Greenland, and we tried to understand what it was, what is the story behind it.
Noel King
And what do you understand the story behind it?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
We understand that this is a measure of national security for Americans. And in some extent, we can very understand that Greenland is part of the field of US interest when it comes to national security. That is why we are Greenland.
And we understand that it is also important for Arctic’s observation. So we agree with the military presence in Greenland. We agree with the concept of expansion of Arctic’s observation. So in some extent we agree with what being said, but it does not follow that we want to be American. It simply follows that we understand that Greenland has an importance for the United States in the field of national security.
Noel King
You are a government minister, and I understand that diplomacy is very important here. But I put the shoe on the other foot and I think, as an American, if the other country says to buy the United States, I personally get upset, be perfectly honest with you.
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Yes, but we are angry. And I think you need to understand what you need to understand, as we accept things quietly. I mean, it does not help the situation in terror. So we are not terrified, but we’re trying to understand what it is and trying to work on it. The United States is much larger than Greenland. We are only a few thousand people. So, of course, when the United States says something, we need to take it seriously. And we understand that sometimes politicians talk about a big game and give a message that is probably more meant to visit the country visitors. So I’m just saying, we’re in the receiving end and we don’t like the bug. We don’t appreciate it. But we want to work on the message we are sending. We want to think about how we can talk in a wise manner on this topic.
Noel King
Confirmed. And being important in the strategic sense, in the economic sense, not really bad things. Often it’s a very, very good thing for a country.
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Well, depend on.
Noel King
Justified enough! Which other country has expressed interest in the acquisition of Greenland?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
I think no other country was interested in the acquisition of Greenland. But we feel that more emphasis on Greenlandic minerals, for example, in the past few years, a very sad background because of the climate crisis and Ukraine war and epidemic that shows Defective supply chain. In a country responsible for the environment and regime, we have focused on where we can find minerals and dig them. And Greenland is suitable that way. So we saw the spark of interest. Not the same as that [saying that] Which really showed himself in a lot of investment from the outside. For example, we still lack investment in the mineral sector.
Noel King
So perhaps President Trump’s message is: We will actually welcome American investment.
Naza H Nathanielsen
We will welcome American investment. We actually signed an agreement with the former Trump administration in 2019, where we explored some of our possibilities together and did some projects together. And we were trying for some time to prolong or extend that contract to the Biden administration. So We are interested in In terms of business with the state. Of course, this doesn’t mean we want to be American, but we want to work with the states in the business sense.
Noel King
Donald Trump spoke a handful of provocative about Greenland but perhaps the most stimulating, at least where I am sitting in the United States is that he is Will not cancel military power In an attempt to acquire Greenland. First, I guess, what kind of talk makes you nervous? And second, how is the nation responding to something like this?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
Okay, of course it makes people nervous. We have children who listen to the media and say, “What’s going on? What are the states come and occupy us?” So it is very unfortunate to try to explain to my government: “We are trying to work through it and not to find out what it is.” Our allies are not part of the allies. NATO. We are friends in the United States. We are a democracy and so the US. What we are trying to do is look out of rhetoric and see how we can work together after such a statement.
Noel King
I have heard you say something that I think is very important that is that Donald Trump speaks a lot. And we have learned in the office in his first four years that sometimes he is very serious and sometimes he actually speaks just. She’s talking occasionally to distract from other things that she is doing. Sometimes he speaks unexpectedly and things are slipped. I think these two things are fair and realistic. Do you have any knowledge that is probably not all that is serious?
Naza H. Nathanielsen
I think Greenland has a real interest in America for a while. So I think it is a fair evaluation that it should be taken seriously about the desire to expand cooperation with Greenland. I think it should be taken very seriously. And it’s not just a person, I can understand it. As I see, it’s a few people, a group of people who are interested in Greenland. And have been there that you can see A bill suggested About the acquisition of Greenland
So I think it’s just a person not saying anything. Of course, when your president says something, you always have to take seriously and we do. That’s the name of the game. But I understand that there is more than just talking.
