GREENLAND LEADER SAYS TRUMP’S THREATS DISRESPECTFUL

Greenland leader says trump’s threats disrespectful

MARIENBORG, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

APRIL 27, 2025
LENGTH: 2:40

SOURCE: AFP (NO ACCESS – only AFP clients):

Text

“We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone, and that’s the message I think is most important to understand,” Nielsen told reporters alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

His visit follows one by Frederiksen to Greenland in early April, when she told the United States “you cannot annex another country”.

Both Frederiksen and Nielsen, who leads Greenland’s new coalition government after his centre-right Democrats party won a legislative election in March, however said they would be willing to meet the US leader for talks.

Tensions between the United States and Denmark have soared after Trump repeatedly said he wanted to take control of the resource-rich Arctic island.

The US president has insisted Washington needs control of Greenland for security reasons, refusing to rule out the use of force to secure it.

Lack of respect
“We are in a situation now where we need to stand together. The talk from the United States has not been respectful,” said Nielsen.

“I totally agree with that,” Frederiksen added.

Nielsen reiterated that Greenland was ready to deepen ties with the United States.
“We are ready for a strong partnership, we are ready for more development, but we want respect,” he said. “You cannot have a partner where there is no mutual respect”.

US Vice President JD Vance also paid a visit to Greenland in March, which both Nuuk and Copenhagen viewed as a provocation.
jll/sbk

See the clips from the press conference

IMAGES

Total Press infront of Marienborg Castle. Residence PM Denmark Mette Frederiksen
Arrivel Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark (PM) (43) and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Premier of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen (33)
Total press and PM´s
SOUNDBITE (DK) Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Premier of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen (33): (DK)
“Det vi har sagt rimelig klart fra fra starten af, er, at vi er klar til et stærkt partnerskab. Vi er klar til mere udvikling, men vi vil gerne have respekt. Jeg synes ikke, man kan have nogle partnere, hvor der ikke er en form for gensidig respekt.
Det synes jeg klart, den grønlandske regering har meldt ud, og det har de grønlandske partier også. Vi vil aldrig nogensinde være et stykke ejendom, der kan købes af nogen som helst, og det er der den besked, at jeg tror, der er vigtigst at forstå. Så kan vi snakke samarbejde i gensidig respekt”.

(TRANSLATION TO UK:
“What we have made quite clear from the beginning is, that we are in a strong partnership.
We are ready for further development, but we would like to be met with respect. I don’t believe you can have partners, without a form of mutual respect.
This has been clearly stated by the Greenlandic government and by the Greenlandic political parties as well. We will never, ever be a piece of property, that can be bought by anyone, and that is the most important message to understand. After that, we can talk about cooperation based on mutual respect.”)
SOUNDBITE (UK) Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Premier of Greenland (33):
“First of all we are in a situation now, where we need to stand together The talks from The United States has not been respectful or the worlds used has not been respectful, so that is why we need in this situation to stand together and in Greenland we are willing to do that with all the countries that wants us good and wants to respect us and wants to have a partnership with mutual respect.”

SOUNDBITE (UK) Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark (PM) (43)
“And I totally agree with that”.
SOUNDBITE (UK) Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark (PM) (43):
“og vi er fuldstændig enige om, at sikkerheden i Arktis og i og omkring Grønland er fuldstændig afgørende, og vi er villig til at investere mere. Og så skal vi være være enige om, hvad det er for nogle kapaciteter og på hvilket tidspunkt”.

(TRANSLATION TO UK:
“And we are in complete agreement that security in the Arctic and in and around Greenland is absolutely crucial, and we are willing to invest more. And then we must agree on what capacities are needed and at what time”.)
SOUNDBITE (DK) Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Premier of Greenland (33):
“Altså, vi har vi har taget, og vi har taget dialogen internt i rigsfællesskabet nu. I har ikke – I har ikke set mig ovre i Det Ovale Kontor. Det er det eneste, jeg kan sige nu”:

(TRANSLATION TO UK:
“Well, we have taken, and we have had the dialogue internally within the Kingdom now. You have not – you have not seen me over in the Oval Office. That is the only thing I can say for now.”)
SOUNDBITE (UK) Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark (PM) (43)
“Jeg synes, vi har været meget, meget tydelige i vores sprogbrug. Og vi vil. Vi vil altid gerne mødes med den amerikanske præsident. Selvfølgelig vil vi det, Men jeg synes, vi har været meget, meget tydelige i, hvad der er af Rigsfællesskabets tilgang til alle dele af kongeriget Danmark.

(TRANSLATION TO UK:
“I think we have been very, very clear in our language. And we will. We will always be happy to meet with the American president. Of course, we will. But I think we have been very, very clear about the approach of the Kingdom of Denmark to all parts of the Kingdom.”)
SOUNDBITE Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Premier of Greenland (33) (DK)
“Jeg syntes, at jeg vil lægge mig der, hvor Mette ligger nu. At vi er selvfølgelig klar til at mødes med alle. Men konstitutionelt, så er vi i rigsfællesskabet nu, og derfor så står vi rykker vi tæt sammen i bussen i forhold til den amerikanske situation eller den udenrigspolitiske situation der er nu”.

(TRANSLATION TO UK:
“I think I will position myself where Mette is now. That we are of course ready
to meet with everyone. But constitutionally, we are in the Kingdom of Denmark now, and therefore we stand and move closely together in the bus in relation to the American situation or the foreign policy situation that exists now.”

END