Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen heads to Greenland as Donald Trump seeks control of the Arctic territory
The Hindu
Danish PM visits Greenland amid U.S. interest, aiming to strengthen ties and address territorial concerns.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is travelling to Greenland on Wednesday (April 2, 2025) for a three-day trip aimed at building trust and cooperation with Greenlandic officials at a time when the Donald Trump administration is seeking control of the vast Arctic territory.
Ms. Frederiksen announced plans for her visit after U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance visited a U.S. air base in Greenland last week and accused Denmark of underinvesting in the territory.
Editorial | Leave it alone: on the status of Greenland
Greenland is a mineral-rich, strategically critical island that is becoming more accessible because of climate change. Mr. Trump has said that the landmass is critical to U.S. security. It's geographically part of North America, but is a semiautonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.
Ms. Frederiksen is due to meet the incoming Greenlandic leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after an election last month that produced a new government. She is also to meet with the future Naalakkersuisut, the Cabinet, in a visit due to last through Friday (April 4, 2025).
“It has my deepest respect how the Greenlandic people and the Greenlandic politicians handle the great pressure that is on Greenland," she said in government statement announcing the visit.
On the agenda are talks with Mr. Nielsen about cooperation between Greenland and Denmark. Mr. Nielsen has said in recent days that he welcomes the visit, and that Greenland would resist any U.S. attempt to annex the territory.