“The US president said he wants to seize an Arctic island.”, — write: www.unian.ua
The US president said he wants to seize an Arctic island.
During the conversation, Trump behaved aggressively and confrontationally / photo GettyImagesUS President Donald Trump insisted he is serious about seizing Greenland during a phone call with the Danish prime minister.According to the Financial Times, he spoke with Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, for 45 minutes last week. The White House would not comment on the conversation, but Frederiksen said she made it clear: Greenland, an autonomous part of Denmark, is not for sale. At the same time, she noted America’s “great interest” in the island.
Five current and former high-ranking European officials indicated that the conversation went very badly. They added that Trump had been aggressive and confrontational after the Danish prime minister said the island was not for sale despite her offer of closer cooperation on military bases and mineral development.
“It was terrible,” said one interlocutor. Another added:
“He was very firm. It was a cold shower. It used to be hard to take it seriously. But I think it is serious and potentially very dangerous.”
The details of the call are likely to heighten European fears that Trump’s return to power will strain transatlantic ties like never before, as the US president puts pressure on allies to cede territory, it said.
Many European officials hoped that his claims of wanting to establish control over Greenland for reasons of “national security” were just a tactical move to gain more influence over the territory, which is part of NATO.
The publication notes that the conversation with Frederiksen destroyed these hopes, deepening the foreign policy crisis between the NATO allies.
“The intention was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one interlocutor with knowledge of the conversation. A former Danish official added:
“It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark, such as targeted tariffs.”
The Danish prime minister’s office said it “does not accept the interpretation of the conversation provided by anonymous sources”.
Trump’s claims to GreenlandGreenland, with a population of just 57,000, serves as a key access point to the new sea lanes that are gradually opening up in the Arctic. In addition, it has rich, although difficult to access, mineral deposits.
President Trump has made it clear that Greenland’s security is important to the United States because China and Russia are “investing heavily in the Arctic region,” a White House National Security Council official said.
In early January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark if it opposed him on the Greenland issue. He also refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to establish control over the island.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has repeatedly emphasized that the islanders want independence, not American – or Danish – citizenship.
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