Donald Trump snapped back Wednesday at the
Danish prime minister's "nasty" dismissal of his attempts to purchase
Greenland, heightening a row which had already prompted the US president
to scrap a state visit.
Hours after announcing he would not visit Copenhagen next month as
planned, Trump accused Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of insulting the
United States as a whole by rejecting talk of buying Greenland as
"absurd."
With Frederiksen voicing her annoyance at Trump's cancellation, the war
of words marks another spat between the US and one of its traditional
allies since Trump came to power two years ago on an avowedly "America
First" foreign policy platform.
Trump -- who made his name as a New York property mogul -- has
characterized his idea of buying Greenland as essentially "a large real
estate" deal, arguing it is a burden on Denmark as the autonomous
territory's economy depends heavily on subsidies from Copenhagen.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was not the
first US president to have raised the idea of buying the vast Arctic
island which has housed an American air base since even before it became
formally a part of Denmark.
"The prime minister (Frederiksen) used a terrible word when talking
about something we've been talking about for years," he said.
"It was not a nice statement the way she blew me off. We've done a lot
for Denmark ... She said absurd. That's not the right word to use.
"It was not a nice way of doing it. She could have just said no, we'd rather not do it.
"She's not talking to me, she's talking to the United States of America."
The idea of the US buying Greenland was initially dismissed as a joke by
some, but its strategic location has grown at a time when both Russia
and China are flexing their muscles.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became part of the
Danish Realm, and it gained "autonomous territory" status in 1979.
Its 55,000 inhabitants -- of whom 17,000 reside in the capital Nuuk --
are more than 90 percent Inuit, an indigenous group from Central Asia.
The government of Greenland has insisted that the island is "not for
sale" and Frederiksen told reporters on Wednesday that she fully
endorsed that view.
"I am both annoyed and surprised that the US president has cancelled a
state visit," said the prime minister who had been preparing to host
Trump early next month.
But, she added, "Denmark and the US are not in crisis, the US is one of
our closest allies" and the invitation to visit was still open.
- 'Show more respect' -
The postponement of Trump's visit -- which was announced on Twitter -- has sparked strong reactions in Denmark.
"Reality transcends imagination ... this man is unpredictable," said
Morten Ostergaard of the Social Liberal Party, which is part of the
ruling coalition.
"For no reason, Trump assumes that (an autonomous) part of our country
is for sale. Then insultingly cancels visit that everybody was preparing
for," tweeted Rasmus Jarlov, a member of the opposition Conservative
Party.
"Are parts of the US for sale? Alaska? Please show more respect."
Nonetheless, conservative newspaper Jyllands-Posten wrote that Trump's
actions ultimately benefitted Denmark, highlighting Greenland's
geopolitical value.
"Mette Frederiksen has been given the opportunity to emphasize that
Greenland's big affairs are in fact decided in Copenhagen ...
strengthening Denmark's position in this great strategic game at stake
over the Arctic," it said.
Nonetheless, conservative newspaper Jyllands-Posten wrote that Trump's
actions ultimately benefitted Denmark, highlighting Greenland's
geopolitical value.
"Mette Frederiksen has been given the opportunity to emphasize that
Greenland's big affairs are in fact decided in Copenhagen ...
strengthening Denmark's position in this great strategic game at stake
over the Arctic," it said.
The territory is home to the US airbase Thule, crucial during the Cold
War as a first line of monitoring against a potential Russian attack.
But the melting polar ice sheet is opening up potentially major shipping
routes, and untapped reserved of oil, gas and minerals will become
increasingly accessible, leading Russia and China to show mounting
interest in the region.
As far back as 1867, the US State Department expressed interest in the
island. And in 1946, President Harry S. Truman offered $100 million in
gold, or parts of Alaska, in exchange for Greenland.
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