‘We choose Denmark’: Greenland

Greenland's prime minister made it crystal clear yesterday that his people in no way want to become part of the United States, ahead of talks in Washington on US claims to the vast Arctic island.

"If we have to choose between the USA and Denmark, then we choose Denmark," Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen.

Frederiksen stressed that it had not been easy to withstand what she termed the "completely unacceptable pressure from our closest allies".

Borders could not be moved by force and a population could not be bought, she said.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen is due to meet United States Vice-president JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today to discuss US interest in the autonomously governed island, which belongs to Denmark. Greenland Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt is also expected to attend.

Whether the direct talks will bring any easing of tensions is unclear. The situation was very serious and the pressure on the Greenlandic population was extremely high, Nielsen said.

US President Donald Trump has recently again threatened to buy or annex Greenland.

Denmark and Greenland have been vigorously rejecting his claims with support of numerous European partners. — dpa