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| Trump again demands to buy Greenland in ‘horrendous’ call with Danish PM | Trump again demands to buy Greenland in ‘horrendous’ call with Danish PM |
| (2 days later) | |
| Source says: ‘The Danes are in crisis mode’ after US president’s call with prime minister Mette Frederiksen | Source says: ‘The Danes are in crisis mode’ after US president’s call with prime minister Mette Frederiksen |
| Donald Trump had a fiery phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen over his demands to buy Greenland, according to senior European officials. | Donald Trump had a fiery phone call with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen over his demands to buy Greenland, according to senior European officials. |
| Speaking to the Financial Times, officials said that Trump, then still president-elect, spoke with Frederiksen for 45 minutes last week, during which he was described to be aggressive and confrontational about Frederiksen’s refusal to sell Greenland to the US. | Speaking to the Financial Times, officials said that Trump, then still president-elect, spoke with Frederiksen for 45 minutes last week, during which he was described to be aggressive and confrontational about Frederiksen’s refusal to sell Greenland to the US. |
| The Financial Times reports that according to five current and former senior European officials who were briefed on the call, the conversation “was horrendous”. One person said: “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious and potentially very dangerous.” | The Financial Times reports that according to five current and former senior European officials who were briefed on the call, the conversation “was horrendous”. One person said: “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious and potentially very dangerous.” |
| Another person who was briefed on the call told the outlet: “The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode.” Someone else said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” | Another person who was briefed on the call told the outlet: “The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode.” Someone else said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” |
| According to one former Danish official, the call was a “very tough conversation” in which Trump “threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs”. | According to one former Danish official, the call was a “very tough conversation” in which Trump “threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs”. |
| Trump has previously said that the US needs to control Greenland and has refused to rule out using US military force to take over the territory. During a press conference a few weeks ago, Trump said that the US needed Greenland “for economic security”. The 836,300-sq-mile (2,166,007-sq-km) Arctic island is thought to be rich in oil and gas, as well as various raw materials for green technology. | |
| Speaking to TV 2 earlier this month, Frederiksen said that the autonomous territory is “not for sale”, adding: “Seen through the eyes of the Danish government, Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” | Speaking to TV 2 earlier this month, Frederiksen said that the autonomous territory is “not for sale”, adding: “Seen through the eyes of the Danish government, Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” |
| In 1953, Greenland became part of the kingdom of Denmark, and in 1979, home rule was introduced. Despite Denmark controlling Greenland’s foreign and security policy, Greenland has its own parliament. | In 1953, Greenland became part of the kingdom of Denmark, and in 1979, home rule was introduced. Despite Denmark controlling Greenland’s foreign and security policy, Greenland has its own parliament. |
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| During his new year speech, Múte Egede, Greenland’s prime minister, said that he wanted Greenland to break free from “the shackles of colonialism”. Then, following a visit from Donald Trump Jr earlier this year, Egede said: “We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be Danish either. Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenland.” | During his new year speech, Múte Egede, Greenland’s prime minister, said that he wanted Greenland to break free from “the shackles of colonialism”. Then, following a visit from Donald Trump Jr earlier this year, Egede said: “We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be Danish either. Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenland.” |