Parliament Deputy Chairman: Greenland's Independence Is Currently Unrealistic

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Bogomil Shopov - Бого

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Greenland Parliament Bentiaraq Ottosen said Greenland's independence was still unrealistic in the near future due to economic and demographic factors, as well as its close relationship with Denmark.

"Greenland's independence may not be real in five or ten years," he said, quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik, Tuesday, January 27.

Ottosen said Greenland needed to remain within Denmark's borders, as the two sides were almost united, while the island's population of around 56,000 compared to Denmark's 5 million made Greenland "too small in a vast country."

The deputy speaker of parliament noted that the issue of independence was still complicated and required consideration of the future of the Greenlandic people themselves, not external interests.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the island should be part of the United States.

Danish and Greenlandic authorities have warned Washington against seizing the island, saying they expect their territorial integrity to be respected.