US President Donald Trump has canceled his state visit to Denmark on the grounds that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen does not want to talk about selling Greenland. A few days earlier, Trump had created a world of amusement with his plan to buy Denmark off the island.
The Prime Minister spared the US and Denmark „a great deal of effort by being so straightforward, but he thanked her,“ Trump wrote on Twitter. He looks forward to arranging a new meeting „sometime in the future.“ A White House spokesman later clarified that the entire visit was canceled on September 2 and 3.
The President and First Lady Melania wanted to follow the invitation to the Danish Queen Margrethe II with the trip to the Scandinavian country. There were plans for bilateral talks and meetings with business representatives. The visit was to be followed by a stay at the end of next week in Poland. This weekend, Trump will participate in the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France.
Trump’s interest in Greenland had caused astonishment and bewilderment in many places – especially on the island itself and in Denmark. Last week, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the CNN broadcaster reported it, but it was unclear how serious Trump’s interest was.
Offer at all legal?
The reports said that the Republican had instructed consultants to consider the possibility of acquiring the autonomous Arctic island belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark. How serious the intentions are, even for his employees unclear. It was discussed, for example, whether such an offer was legal at all, how such an operation could proceed and where the money should come from.
On Sunday, Trump explained that a purchase of Greenland could be „strategically“ interesting for the US. He added: „Basically it would be a big real estate business.“ Denmark loses a lot of money every year with its support for Greenland. The topic could be discussed during his planned trip to Copenhagen, but it is not the „top priority“ and not the reason for the visit. Denmark is an important NATO partner, enjoying the protection of the US, said the former real estate entrepreneur. Already at this time, he indicated that the trip could be omitted.
„That must be an April Fool’s joke“
Greenland and Denmark had decisively rejected the idea of a sale. The Danish head of government Frederiksen visited Greenland on Sunday, once again stressing that the island was not for sale. Commenting on Trump’s thoughts, she said: „I sincerely hope that this is not meant seriously.“ Former Prime Minister Lars Lökke Rasmussen made it even clearer at the end of last week on Twitter: „This must be an April Fool’s joke.“
The US president himself had commented on the issue with humor on Tuesday: he posted a photomontage on Twitter showing his glittering gold-glittering Trump International Las Vegas hotel amidst small, colorful homes on Greenland’s coast. „I promise not to do that to Greenland,“ Trump wrote. The jocular photomontage titled „Greenland in ten years“ is already circulating in the social networks for several days.
Strategically important for the USA
With a look at the history of the US, the purchase intentions do not seem quite so outlandish. By 1876, the United States had bought Alaska from Russia for $ 7.2 million (€ 6.5 million) to drive forward the United States‘ strategic expansion.
Greenland, with its approximately 56,000 inhabitants, is autonomous, but belongs to the Danish kingdom. Its area is over two million square kilometers. Much of it is constantly covered in ice. For Washington, Greenland could be strategically important due to its location in the Arctic, its proximity to Russia and its supposed mineral resources.
Trump’s advisor Larry Kudlow said on Sunday, looking at the island, „They have many precious minerals.“ The US also operates an air force base in Thule, which is part of its missile warning system. During the Second World War, the US also used the island for the airlift across the Atlantic.
