Copenhagen [Denmark], January 23: Denmark will not hold negotiations with the United States on the sovereignty of Greenland, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday.
"We can negotiate on any political issue - security, investments, economy," Frederiksen said in a statement. "But we cannot negotiate over our sovereignty."
The comments came after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday promised he "won't use force" to take control of the Danish-administered Arctic territory following talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump - who has insisted on Washington's need to control the vast ice-covered island for national and global security reasions - said he and Rutte had "formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland," leading to speculation over the details.
Frederiksen's statement clarified that she has been "informed" that sovereignty over Greenland is not up for negotiation. "NATO is fully aware of the Kingdom of Denmark's position," she added.
The terms of the rumoured deal are yet to be made public, but sources suggest Washington's agreement with Denmark allowing it to station troops in Greenland could be revised to allow the US to build its "Golden Dome" missile defence system on the territory.
In addition, greater involvement of European NATO countries in the Arctic is planned.
The New York Times reported, citing government officials, that part of the compromise with Trump could involve Denmark transferring sovereignty over small areas of Greenland to the US for the purpose of establishing military bases.
"Only Denmark and Greenland themselves can make decisions on matters affecting Denmark and Greenland," Frederiksen insisted.
Copenhagen is seeking "constructive dialogue with its allies on how we can strengthen security in the Arctic - including via the US Golden Dome - as long as this is done with respect for our territorial integrity," she added.
Source: Qatar Tribune
