Danish PM, Trump have phone chat
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump amid a dispute about Greenland, her office said Friday.
Earlier this week, Trump scrapped a visit to Denmark by saying that Frederiksen was “nasty” when she rejected his idea of buying Greenland as an absurdity.
Both leaders spoke late Thursday, and Danish media reported that the call was “constructive.” Frederiksen’s office said details of the discussion won’t be released.
It is believed that it was the first time the two spoke since Frederiksen, who repeatedly has said the U.S. remains one of Denmark’s close allies, took office June 27.
On Tuesday, Trump abruptly canceled a Sept. 2-3 trip to Denmark as part of a European tour after Frederiksen had called Trump’s idea to buy Greenland “an absurd discussion.”
She also had said that Denmark doesn’t own Greenland, which belongs to its people. The scarcely populated island is part of the Danish realm and has its own government and parliament.
The political spat over the world’s largest island comes from its strategic location in the Arctic. Global warming is making potential oil and mineral resources more accessible.
Denmark and Greenland have agreed to strengthen their cooperation on security and defense, with officials citing the growing strategic role of the Arctic region as the thawing ice opens up new trade routes and improves access to the island’s natural resources.
“The presence of Defense Command Denmark in the Arctic and north Atlantic will be even more important in the years to come as the geopolitical importance of the Arctic increases,” the Danish Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The agreement announced Friday in Copenhagen envisages plans for joint military exercises and training sessions for the emergency services. Denmark sent 38 firefighters to Greenland last week to help put out a fire near Sisimiut, in the western part of the island, that started in early July.
Denmark’s defense minister, Trine Bramsen, said the Social Democrat-led government was also considering sending more warships.
“The threats and developments resulting from climate change requires our presence,” Bramsen was quoted as saying by Danish broadcaster DR.
Greenland is rich in oil and rare earth minerals and is home to a U.S. military base. Russia and China are also seeking a larger presence in the Arctic region.