The prime minister of Greenland is looking to set up a meeting with President Donald Trump.
At a Tuesday press conference in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, Prime Minister Mute B. Egede announced that his government wants to arrange a meeting with Trump after the new U.S. leader repeatedly advocated the seizure of the world's largest island.
TRUMP WANTS TO TAKE OVER GREENLAND — AND HE HAS SEVERAL OPTIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
“It is very understandable that people are worried. But the most important thing now is that people remain calm,” Egede said. “We must be able to meet and talk about this calmly.”
When asked if he conveyed the message to Trump that the United States can't take Greenland, the prime minister said he was working on it.
“That’s what we’re working on,” Egede said. “You can’t get around the fact that if they [the U.S.] want to talk about Greenland, they have to talk to Greenland.”
“The Greenlandic people must make it clear what they want to be. We do not want to be Danes. We do not want to be Americans,” he added.
Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said the meeting could be held in the next few days.
A Patriot Polling survey of 400 Greenlanders found that 57% of them supported becoming a U.S. state. Large-scale polling hasn't been conducted on the matter.
Egede is a leader of the separatist socialist Inuit Ataqatigiit party, which advocates Greenland independence. Denmark has allowed the island to declare independence whenever it wants, though generous subsidies from Copenhagen have prevented the move.
Trump reiterated his desire to seize the island Monday, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office hours after his inauguration.
“Greenland is a wonderful place. We need it for international security. And I'm sure that Denmark will come along,” he said.
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“The people of Greenland are not happy with Denmark, as you know. I think they are happy with us. ... My son and representatives went up there two weeks ago, and they like us. So, we’ll see what happens,” he added.
Trump hasn't ruled out military intervention to take the island territory.