US President-elect Donald Trump’s eldest son arrived in Greenland on Tuesday for a private visit, fueling speculation that the incoming US administration may seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory.
The Danish state broadcaster reported that Donald Trump Jr.’s plane landed in Nuuk, the capital of the vast and snowy region, which has about 57,000 residents. Local media broadcast footage of them walking down the icy path.
In a statement, Greenland’s government said Trump Jr.’s visit would be “as a private individual”, not an official visit, and that Greenland’s representatives would not meet him. Greenland is an autonomous region that is part of Denmark.
Minguaq Kleist, permanent secretary of the Greenland Department of Foreign Affairs, told The Associated Press that officials were informed Trump Jr. would stay for about four to five hours.
Neither Trump Jr.’s delegation nor Greenland government officials had requested the meeting, Kleist said.
Nevertheless this journey had a political colour.
The president-elect recently expressed a desire to acquire territory in the Arctic, an area of strategic importance to the United States, China, Russia and others – something that was also expressed during his first presidency.
The world’s largest island, Greenland lies between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is home to a large US military base. It is 80% covered with ice sheet.
“I’m hearing the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA.’ My son, Don Jr., and various representatives, will be going there to tour some of the most spectacular areas and sights,” the president-elect said on his social media sites Monday night. Posted referring to his “Make America Great Again” slogan. ,
“Greenland is an incredible place and people would benefit greatly if it became a part of our country,” Trump wrote. “We will protect and preserve it from the increasingly dangerous outside world. Make Greenland great again!”
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Eggede called for independence from Denmark in a New Year’s speech, saying it would be a way for Greenland to free itself from its colonial past. But Egede has also said he has no interest in Greenland becoming part of the United States, insisting that the island is not for sale.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday that Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenlanders and called the United States Denmark’s most important ally.
King Frederick
Last month, the king changed the coat of arms of Denmark to include areas that represent Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland is represented by a silver bear with a red tongue. The royal proclamation states that since 1194, the royal coat of arms has “visibly symbolized the legitimacy and sovereignty of the State and the Emperor.”
“We are all united and each of us is committed to the Kingdom of Denmark,” the king said in his New Year’s address. He added, “To Greenland.”
During his first term, the US President-elect thought about purchasing Greenland, which had received home rule from Denmark in 1979. He canceled a scheduled visit to Denmark in August 2019 after the Prime Minister rejected the idea.
Reviving the issue in a statement last month when he announced his choice to be US ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote: “For purposes of national security and freedom around the world, the United States feels That ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Trump’s eldest son has become a major player in his father’s political movement and served on his presidential transition team, helping to select those who will staff the incoming White House.