Reacting on the reports about the US President’s plan, the Greenland government said in a statement that, “Greenland is not for sale, and can’t be sold, but Greenland is ready for negotiations to enter collaborations with other countries, including the US.”
U.S. President Donald Trump. (File Photo: IANS)
Greenland on Friday said that it is “not for sale” after reports came that US President Donald Trump expressed interest in buying the world’s biggest island.
Trump is due to visit Copenhagen in September and the Arctic will be on the agenda during meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Reacting on the reports about the US President’s plan, the Greenland government said in a statement that, “Greenland is not for sale, and can’t be sold, but Greenland is ready for negotiations to enter collaborations with other countries, including the US.”
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Similar comments were made by other politicians in Greenland and Denmark.
Former prime minister Lars Lokkie Rasmussen said on Twitter, “It has to be an April Fool’s joke. Totally out of season,”
“If he is truly contemplating this, then this is final proof, that he has gone mad,” foreign affairs spokesman for the Danish People’s Party, Soren Espersen, told broadcaster DR.
“The thought of Denmark selling 50,000 citizens to the United States is completely ridiculous,” he said.
Taking to Twitter, former US ambassador to Denmark said, “Oh dear lord. As someone who loves Greenland, has been there nine times to every corner and loves the people, this is a complete and total catastrophe”.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod were not available for comment but officials said they would respond later on Friday.
The US Embassy in Copenhagen was also not immediately available for comment.
There has been no indication that a Greenland purchase will be on the agenda for Trump’s talks with Danish officials.
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