Greenland’s Prime Minister is “ready to talk” with president-elect Donald Trump about the island’s future.
Donald Trump has described US control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory as an “absolutely necessity.” In recent days he refused to dismiss the use of military or economic means, including tariffs against Denmark, to gain control of the island.
At a press conference in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Mute Egede said he had not yet spoken to Trump but is now ready to do so.
“We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house … This is something everyone should respect,” Egede said.
“But that doesn’t mean we are cutting all ties, all cooperation and all relations with Denmark.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who was also at the press conference, said she had asked for a meeting with Trump, but that it would not take place before the inauguration on 20 January.
Greenland, which is home to just under 60,000 people, has been a semi-autonomous territory since 1953. In 2009 it gained the right to seek independence from Denmark through a referendum.
The US has a military base in northern Greenland.
US interest in the acquisition of Denmark dates back as far as 1910. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, the US came very close to purchasing Greenland from Denmark, offering $100 million in gold bullion. The US government even considered offering land in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Denmark in exchange. Details about the serious negotiations between the US and Denmark remained classified until the 1970s.