Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede announced a desire to obtain independence from Denmark in the wake of President-elect Trump’s comments about buying the island territory.
“The Greenlandic people’s opportunity for independence has been adopted through the provisions of the Self-Government Act, thereby creating a legal basis for how independence can be achieved,” Egede said in a Wednesday speech in honor of the new year.
“A draft constitution for our country has also been prepared,” he said. “Work has already begun with regard to creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state within the possibilities and provisions of the Self-Government Act.”
The leader said a new development for Greenland is “imminent” days after Trump took a second pass at purchasing the land, which sits in the prominent Arctic region.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said in a Dec. 22 Truth Social post.
Egede hit back in a statement, declaring Greenland was not for sale and would undertake every effort to not be acquired by the U.S. “In the coming summer, it will now be possible to reach us directly from other countries, without first traveling via Denmark, it will therefore be possible for us to develop and govern our country more independently,” he added.
He declared that new airports in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq were the next step in a process for an “improved” and “flexible” infrastructure that could bolster tourism and trade.
