It was a contentious, aggressive cellphone name 5 days earlier than President Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
Talking to Prime Minister Matt Frederiksen of Denmark, Mr Trump insisted he wished the US to grab Greenland, the huge and autonomous Danish island that occupies a strategic a part of the ocean because the ice caps soften and new delivery lanes open.
The tone and content material of the icy alternate was described by two European officers who had been briefed on a 45-minute name and requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. America has not publicly commented on the decision.
Ms Frederiksen made numerous proposals for higher cooperation on navy and financial points, however insisted that Greenland, which already hosts an vital US base, was not on the market, in keeping with European officers.
From that decision on January 15, the aggressive tenor of which was previously reported By the Monetary Occasions Denmark has tried to calm the waters, urging its European Union companions to not inflame the state of affairs till issues are clearer, officers mentioned. The difficulty of Greenland is just not on the agenda for the EU Overseas Affairs Council assembly in Brussels on Monday, for instance.
If Mr Trump decides to strain Denmark with financial means, by way of tariffs, the European Union itself is predicted to reply broadly with counter-tariffs, mentioned Zaki Laidi, PO of Sciences professor and adviser to the previous EU overseas coverage chief. JOSEPH BORRELL FONTELLES.
“I am instructed that Trump is sort of critical about Greenland and will probably be an enormous problem for the EU if we do not react strongly to it,” Mr Laidy mentioned. He confirmed that “the Danes are saying, ‘Hold it,’ however they’re scared.”
That sense of foreboding was evident in Davos, Switzerland, the place final week European leaders gathered with company executives and teachers for the World Financial Discussion board’s annual assembly. Rumors of Mr. Trump’s name with Ms. Frederiksen grew on the gathering, as did nervousness about what a second Trump administration would imply for Europe as an entire.
For now, the Danes are concentrating on dialogue. On Friday, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the overseas minister and prime minister of Denmark in the course of the first Trump administration, held a 20-minute phone dialogue with the brand new US secretary of state, Ruby Marcoo. Mr Rasmussen then mentioned the 2 sides had agreed to debate the “Arctic area” and that the dialog, which included different points similar to Ukraine, had a “good and constructive tone”.
The State Division, for its half, mentioned Mr. Rubio had “reaffirmed the power of the connection” between the 2 nations. The 2 males, the State Division mentioned, “mentioned the significance of deepening bilateral and regional cooperation on safety and protection, financial and commerce points, and ending the battle in Ukraine.”
Formally, Denmark has mentioned little in regards to the cellphone name between Mr. Trump and Ms. Frederiksen. Statement Ms. Frederiksen’s workplace instantly afterward made no point out of sharp variations, however emphasised commerce with america and spoke of cooperation, dialogue and elevated safety funding from Denmark.
“Within the dialog, the Prime Minister emphasised the significance of strengthening safety within the Arctic and that the Kingdom of Denmark is able to tackle even higher accountability for this,” the assertion mentioned. Within the assertion, Ms. Frederiksen quoted the speaker of Greenland’s parliament, Mute Egede, as saying that Greenland was not on the market and argued that “it’s as much as Greenland itself to determine on independence.”
Officers briefed on the cellphone name and Mr. Laidy prompt that Mr. Trump’s intentions had been unclear and that he would possibly transfer to encourage Greenland to vote for independence in a referendum after which tie up with the U.s.. Or he could need to strain Denmark and the European Union with tariffs. Brussels is working with the Danes to strike the best tone and discover out what Mr Trump actually needs, one official mentioned.
In response to questions on Sunday, the Danish prime minister mentioned he “doesn’t settle for the interpretation of the dialog carried out by nameless sources”.
In accordance with an settlement in 2009 with Denmark, Greenland can solely declare independence after a profitable referendum – which Mr Egede prompt could be held in tandem with the island’s upcoming parliamentary elections in April.
Mr. Trump referred to as us management of Greenland an “absolute necessity” for Western safety, and on Saturday, in a huddle with reporters, he mentioned, “I feel we’ll have it.”
Friis Arne Petersen, a former Danish ambassador in Washington, mentioned that “Europe, Greenland and the remainder of the world ought to take Donald Trump’s statements very significantly as a result of they had been rigorously ready.”
“The phrases used and their context depart no room for interpretation,” he mentioned in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro. Mr Trump’s curiosity in Greenland was extra business in his first time period – when he first proposed shopping for it – however now it’s principally about safety, Mr Petersen mentioned.
The difficulty of Greenland “is of the utmost significance to the EU”, Mr Laidi mentioned. “Our credibility is at stake. The Danes need to preserve a low profile, however that is not the way in which the world works. “
Greenland, with a inhabitants of about 60,000, was a Danish colony till it dedicated suicide with its personal parliament in 1979. It stays a Danish territory, with Copenhagen exercising management over its overseas and protection coverage.
