Greenland’s leader says he doesn’t know what’s in the US-Denmark framework agreement but insists no deal can be made without the territory’s involvement.
NUUK: Greenland’s Prime Minister says he is unaware of the contents of a framework agreement concerning the territory announced by US President Donald Trump.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated no deal can be made about Greenland without involving the autonomous Danish territory.
“Nobody else than Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark have the mandate to make deals or agreements about Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without us,” Nielsen told a press conference.
He outlined non-negotiable principles for any discussions.
“We have some red lines… We have to respect our territorial integrity. We have to respect international law, sovereignty,” he added.
President Trump announced the framework after meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, stepping back from earlier threats to seize Greenland by force.
Specific details of the agreement, reached at the World Economic Forum in Davos, have not been released.
Nielsen said he was pleased military force was ruled out but lacked specifics on the pact.
“I don’t know what there is in the agreement or the deal about my country,” Nielsen told reporters, confirming he was not part of the talks.
A source familiar with the discussions said the framework includes renegotiating a 1951 US-Denmark defence pact concerning Greenland.
The source clarified that placing US bases in Greenland under American sovereignty was not discussed.
Greenland’s Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede earlier called attempts to hand over land “unacceptable” in a social media post.
Nielsen firmly stated Greenland’s allegiance if forced to choose.
He said if Greenland had to choose between remaining part of Denmark or joining the US, “we choose the Kingdom of Denmark, we choose the EU, we choose NATO.”
