Greenland is ready to talk.
Responding Monday to the diplomatic earthquake unleashed last week by President-elect Donald J. Trump, who mulled the possibility of seizing the giant island in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland’s prime minister said the territory would like to work more closely. with the United States in defense and natural resources.
“The reality is that we are going to work with the United States: yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Prime Minister Múte Egede said at a news conference in Nuuk, the small, ice-frozen capital of Greenland.
But he was firm: Greenlanders did not want to become Americans.
“We have to be very smart in how we act,” he said, adding: “The power struggles between the superpowers are increasing and now they are knocking on our door.”
Trump refused to rule out using economic or military force to recapture the Panama Canal and seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark that he suggested purchasing during his first term. Then, as now, Greenland and Denmark said the island was not for sale. Panama’s leaders also rejected the threat.
Egede said Monday that “we were all shocked” by Trump’s words, which were punctuated by a surprising and somewhat mysterious visit from the president-elect’s eldest son. Donald Trump Jr.to the island the same day.
The younger Trump went on a whirlwind tour, saying he was on private business, and headlines around the world have been blaring about Greenland ever since.
Most of Greenland’s territory is covered in ice, only about 56,000 people live here and, until recently, the island was best known for its icebergs and polar bears. As climate change melts the Arctic ice, this region has quietly fallen into the crosshairs of world powers.
The United States, Russia, European countries, China and others have been eyeing the Arctic shipping lanes and vast mineral resources that are no longer considered out of reach.
The island has been linked to Denmark for centuries, first as a colony and now as a separate territory that has achieved a high degree of autonomy in recent years. Denmark still controls the island’s foreign affairs and defense policy.
But growing interest from international powers coincides with Greenland’s quest for independence, and that itch has only grown stronger. At the same time, many people here are reluctant to completely cut ties with Denmark because of the hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies Denmark provides each year.
In Nuuk, where it was sunny at zero degrees Fahrenheit on Monday afternoon, many people were anxiously waiting to hear what the prime minister was going to say.
“No matter what happens, there’s no turning back,” said Aviaq Kleist, owner of a cafe in Nuuk Center, the city’s largest shopping center, with a couple dozen stores. He joked that perhaps Mr. Egede would suddenly declare independence.
Egede did not: he circled around the issue, saying that the country had been constantly working towards the goal, but that “different parties have different points of view.” (There is also a clear independence process that involves a referendum, should the time come).
The prime minister also expressed relief over comments JD Vance, the incoming vice president, made about a Fox News show this weekend. Although Vance didn’t exactly rule out military force, saying, “We don’t have to use military force” because “we already have troops in Greenland,” his tone was optimistic when he spoke of Greenland’s “incredible natural resources.” and “an agreement must be reached.”
The United States has been interested in Greenland for years. During World War II, he established bases here and after the war tried to buy Greenland from Denmark, which refused. Today, the US military runs the Pituffik Space Basewhich specializes in anti-missile defense, on the northern tip of the island.
In Nuuk on Monday, people seemed to be in tune with the prime minister, expressing a mix of hope and caution. Several said they did not want to be absorbed by the United States. But they did want a stronger partnership with the United States.
“What we really need is more cooperation and trade,” said Nielseeraq Berthelsen, a fisherman. He was working at an ice-covered seafood market, selling chunks of bright red whale skin and seal meat.
He said he was walking through another shopping center last week when someone approached him out of the blue and invited him to a special dinner.
The next thing he knew, he said, he was shaking hands with the young Trump.
“He had a lot of enthusiasm,” said Berthelsen, who stood in the air so cold his eyes filled with tears as he spoke. “He had good energy.”
Ivik Kristiansen contributed reporting.
