Greenland to Trump: not for sale, but we are talking about business

Greenland is ready to talk.

Responding Monday to the diplomatic earthquake last week by President-elect Donald J. Trump, who he was thinking of taking his place the giant island in the Arctic Ocean, the prime minister of Greenland said that 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 told a news conference in Nuuk, Greenland’s tiny frozen capital.

But he was adamant: the Greenlanders did not want to become Americans.

“We have to be very smart about how we act,” he said, adding: “The power struggle between the superpowers is growing and now they are knocking on our door.”

Mr. Trump refused to rule out the use of economic or military force to restore the Panama Canal and to take Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that he suggested buying during his first term. Then, as now, Greenland and Denmark said the island was not for sale. Panamanian leaders also rejected the threat.

Mr Egede said on Monday that “we were all shocked” by Mr Trump’s words, which were accentuated 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 Mr. Trump made a quick tourist visit, saying he was on private business, and since then, the headlines around the world have been Greenland.

Most of Greenland’s territory is covered in ice, only about 56,000 people live there 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 targeted 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 large degree of autonomy in recent years. Denmark still controls the island’s foreign affairs and defense policy.

But the increased interest from international powers coincides with Greenland’s quest for independence, and that itch is only 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 that Denmark provides each year.

In Nuuk, which was a sunny zero degree Fahrenheit Monday afternoon, many people waited impatiently to hear what the prime minister had to say.

“Whatever happens, there is no going back,” said Aviaq Kleist, the owner of a cafe in the Nuuk Center, the city’s largest shopping mall, with a dozen shops. She joked that maybe Mr. Egede would suddenly declare independence.

Mr Egede did not – he danced around the question, saying that the country was constantly working towards the goal, but that “different parties have different views”. (There is also a clear independence process that involves a referendum, if it comes to that).

The prime minister also expressed relief at the comments that JD Vance, the incoming vice president, made a Fox News show this weekend. Although Mr. Vance did not exactly rule out military force, saying, “We’re not going to use military force” because “we already have troops in Greenland,” his tone was upbeat as he spoke of Greenland’s “incredible natural resources.” and “a deal to be done.”

The United States has been interested in Greenland for years. During World War II, he established bases there, and after the war, he tried to buy Greenland from Denmark, which he refused. Today, the US military runs the Pituffik Space Basewhich specializes in missile defense, at the northern end of the island.

In Nuuk on Monday, people seemed to be on the same page as the prime minister, expressing a mix of hope and caution. Many said they did not want to be swallowed up by the United States. But they wanted a stronger partnership with America.

“What we really need is more cooperation and trade,” said Nielseeraq Berthelsen, a fisherman. He worked in an ice-encrusted seafood market, selling chunks of whale skin and shiny red seal meat.

He said he was walking through another mall 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 the hand of the younger Mr. Trump.

“He was very excited,” said Mr. Berthelsen, who stood in the air so cold that his eyes watered as he spoke. “He had good energy.”

Ivik Kristiansen contributed to the report.