The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M), sees no immediate risk of annexation – but acknowledges that the threat of American influence has moved closer.
– I mean, we don’t consider a military annexation as something that could possibly happen – not at all. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that we consider the matter closed. But I’m also aware that these two things are getting closer and closer to each other compared to the first period. So we take it very, very seriously.
This is what Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Friday at a press briefing in Aarhus, which KNR has gained insight into.
On Saturday, he and the Minister of Defense will travel to the United States, where they will discuss transatlantic security, among other things. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit will specifically address Russia’s war against Ukraine and the buildup of defense in Europe.
But at the press briefing, Lars Løkke Rasmussen puts his thoughts into words when it comes to the threat to Greenland. Here he gives insight into how serious he and European leaders see the situation.
– We are really happy that we have had this strong European solidarity. We should not underestimate the importance of Macron’s visit to Greenland. And I have been informed that many other European leaders are ready to visit Greenland. But we also have to play this wisely. But I know that there is a lot of truth in that story that could be presented if necessary.
Advocacy campaigns and influence
Although the foreign minister does not believe that military annexation of the country is realistic, he still warns that the country is vulnerable to influence campaigns.
– There could then be other attempts (other than annexation, ed.). And one must understand that Greenland is a small society that will be open to some form of influence.
The video below was shared by Donald Trump in late March. Here, the US associates Greenland with the phrase “Manifest Destiny,” which refers to a political idea in the US that the country has a divine right to expand its territory.
The video below was shared by Donald Trump in late March. Here, the US associates Greenland with the phrase “Manifest Destiny,” which refers to a political idea in the US that the country has a divine right to expand its territory.
pic.twitter.com/i1rW9HroWn
If you have been wondering why the Greenlandic government seems to have closer cooperation with Denmark than before the Greenlandic government election, it is precisely to send a signal to, among others, the United States.
– That’s why we are ramping up our internal cooperation with the Greenland Government and within the Kingdom of Denmark, and we are reaching out to European friends. Lots of solidarity and many outreach activities aimed at the American community.
A journalist present at the press briefing asks the foreign minister if he is concerned about influence from the US government. But he denies this.
– Not necessarily. I’m not talking about the government, but you know, it all started with the visit of his son, Donald Jr., Trump, and these market people. You saw these people with caps and stuff, and dollars in the streets of Nuuk. So you shouldn’t rule out the possibility that someone could try to manipulate the Greenlandic population. But the Greenlanders are also very resilient.
Military armament
Currently, Greenland and Denmark are in the process of ramping up military training and new Arctic defense packages in Greenland. This is because both the United States, Greenland and Denmark believe that Russia’s buildup in the Arctic requires a response.
But at the same time, the Foreign Minister reveals that there are currently no concrete negotiations in cooperation with the United States about the same – even though the United States has repeatedly said that military protection of Greenland is an important security issue for American security.
Arctic Command released a video on Thursday. It includes clips from some of the latest military training exercises in the country.
Arctic Command released a video on Thursday. It includes clips from some of the latest military training exercises in the country.
– We act while the Americans talk, says Lars Løkke Rasmussen and continues:
– We presented an Arctic package earlier this year, and with the new package 2 we are talking about building military capacity in Greenland. If we can get NATO to take greater responsibility in the Arctic – which we have already been successful with – and if we can show strong European solidarity and strengthen cooperation between the EU and Greenland, then we can overcome this in a peaceful way, so to speak.
Variable optimism
Denmark has experienced an interest from American politicians like never before, says Lars Løkke Rasmussen. So far, there have been three delegations visiting from Congress, and two more may be on the way.
But while President Trump continues to speak out harshly about the possibility of a military takeover of Greenland, the Foreign Minister believes that the rest of the senior politicians are more nuanced and rational.
– I have a feeling that the administration and senior politicians in the United States have a very nuanced approach. We are aware that there are issues related to Greenland and NATO in terms of security, and we are also prepared to cooperate with the Americans on this.
– But of course it can never be about annexation. So it’s not like I feel like this is over. It’s not.
At the same time, the Foreign Minister compares the Greenlandic election to the election in Canada. Here, the leader of the Liberal Party, Mark Carney, won after running an election campaign in which he distanced himself greatly from Donald Trump’s overtures to incorporate the country as part of the United States.
– I think if you look at the outcome of the Greenlandic election and Canada, there is a reaction when you put pressure on people. You should not underestimate that there can actually be a positive effect created by something that is fundamentally a negative issue. So I remain calm and optimistic.
– I have the impression, when talking to the president and others in the administration, that they are aware that we should solve these issues in close cooperation.