Mutt Egede, who has previously said the territory is “not for sale,” stressed people’s desire to become “masters of their own houses.”

Greenlanders do not want to become Americans or Danes, the Arctic island nation’s prime minister said after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to acquire the territory.

Prime Minister Mute Egede has insisted territory The company was “not for sale” and offered to engage with the U.S. at a news conference in Copenhagen on Friday after Trump last month signaled his “ownership and control” intentions.

However, he also emphasized Greenland’s desire for independence, which has grown in recent years as Denmark’s colonial abuses against the Inuit came to light.

“Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. We don’t want to be Danish, we don’t want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlanders,” he told a news conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“Our desire to be independent and to be the masters of our own homes … is something that everyone should respect,” Egged said.

“But this does not mean that we are cutting off all ties, all cooperation and all relations with Denmark,” he added.

He also pointed out that Greenland is part of the North American continent and “a place that Americans consider part of the world.” He said he was willing to talk to Trump about “what unites us.”

“Cooperation is dialogue. Cooperation means you will work towards solutions,” he said.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who was present at the press conference, said: “The debate on Greenland’s independence and the latest declaration from the United States demonstrate the strong interest in Greenland. These events have triggered many thoughts on the part of many people in Greenland and Denmark. and feelings.

“The United States is our closest ally and we will do everything we can to continue our strong cooperation,” she said.

‘Absolutely necessary’

Trump earlier this week refused to rule out the use of military or economic power in order to bring Greenland under US control. Trump said last month that “ownership and control” of Greenland was “absolutely necessary” for the United States as it seeks to counter Russia and China’s growing interest in the Arctic.

Trump previously offered to buy Greenland during his first presidential term from 2017 to 2021 and even postponed a 2019 visit to Denmark after Frederiksen refused.

a “private” access His son, Donald Trump Jr., visited the territory this week, fueling further speculation that the president-elect will push to buy Greenland when he takes office on January 20.

The United States maintains a military base in the northern part of the strategically important territory, home to 57,000 people.

Greenland was a Danish colony from 1721 to 1953, but is now an autonomous Danish territory. In 2009, it won the right to demand independence through a vote.