Trump Ambitious To Seize His Territory, Denmark Confirms Greenland Will Not Be Part Of America

JAKARTA - Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Greenland might be independent if its residents wanted it. But Greenland will not become the state of the United States (US)

Greenland's prime minister held talks with the Danish king in Copenhagen, Wednesday, January 8, a day after Trump's statement prompted the fate of the Danish-controlled island to become the world's main news.

Trump, who took office on January 20, said he would not rule out the use of military or economic action to make Greenland part of the United States.

On the same day, Tuesday, January 7, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., made a personal visit to Greenland.

Greenland, the world's largest island, has been part of Denmark for 600 years although 57,000 of its population now regulates their own domestic affairs.

The government of the island led by Prime Minister Mute Egede aims to achieve independence.

"We are fully aware that Greenland has its own ambitions. If that happens, Greenland will be independent, although it has no ambition to become a federal country in the United States," the Danish Foreign Minister said.

He told reporters the United States' growing concern about security in the Arctic was natural following the increasing activity of Russia and China in the region.

"I don't think we are in a foreign policy crisis," he said.

"We are open to dialogue with America on how we can work together more closely to ensure America's ambitions are met," he added.

Although Denmark itself underestimates the seriousness of Trump's threats to its territory, Trump's ambition to publicly declare expanding the US border has shocked its European allies less than two weeks before he took office.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Europe would not allow other countries to attack its sovereign borders, although he did not believe the US would carry out an invasion.

A German government spokesman said Berlin adhered to border principles should not be forced to change. A spokesman for the European Commission said the sovereignty of EU member states should be respected.