Donald Trump repeated his demand to be given control of Greenland in a “horrendous” phone call with the prime minister of Denmark.
The US president spoke to Mette Frederiksen for 45 minutes last week and became aggressive when he was told that Greenland was not for sale, the Financial Times reported. Trump again threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Denmark if it refused to give up its autonomous territory in the Arctic.
Frederiksen offered closer co-operation with the US on military bases and mineral exploitation on the island, but senior European officials said Trump balked at the offer, demanding full US control.
• Trump plan to purchase Greenland has precedent
Mette Frederiksen, right, with Mute Egede, prime minister of Greenland, this month
MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/RITZAU SCANPIX/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
“It was horrendous,” one source told the newspaper. “He was very firm,” another said. “Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.”
A Danish former official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”
The standoff is certain to deepen alarm in Europe as transatlantic ties come under growing strain within days of Trump’s return to the White House. Since taking office, the president has threatened heavy tariffs on the EU, demanded a massive increase in defence spending from Nato allies — which include Denmark — and publicly suggested annexing Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada.
Trump floated the idea of buying Greenland during his first term as president and revived the proposal before his inauguration on Monday. He has declared that American control of the territory is an “absolute necessity” for US and global national security.
• Why is Trump so interested in Greenland?
European powers hoped Trump’s comments were the opening gambit in a negotiation for greater influence in the Arctic, where Russia and China are expanding their strategic positions. That hope appears to have been dashed by the call with Frederiksen.
“The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode,” one person briefed on the call said. Another European official added: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.”
The White House has not commented on the call. Frederiksen has said that she noted Trump’s “big interest” in Greenland but repeated that it was not for sale. The prime minister’s office said it did “not recognise the interpretation of the conversation given by anonymous sources”.
The government of Greenland has signalled that it is open to closer defence and trade ties with the Trump administration since the president revived his interest in the territory. The island of about 57,000 inhabitants is already home to a US space base and holds vast untapped deposits of oil and rare earth minerals, which are crucial for manufacturing batteries and high-tech devices.
Donald Trump Jr, the president’s son, visited Greenland two weeks ago
Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, said this month that he welcomed American investment in mining and tourism, but insisted the territory’s future was “Greenland’s business”.
“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans. Of course, we want to be Greenlanders,” he said.
Trump threatened Denmark with tariffs if it refused to give up Greenland and has refused to rule out using military force to occupy the island.
“People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it but, if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” he told a press conference days before he took office. “I’m talking about protecting the free world. You have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We’re not letting that happen.”