Greenland PM says he doesn’t know what’s in deal reached with Trump

Canadian comedian Mark Critch wears a Donald Trump costume and poses with locals in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Greenland’s prime minister said on Thursday that he was not aware of the contents of a framework agreement about the Danish autonomous territory that US President Donald Trump announced after a meeting with Nato’s chief, but stressed no deal could be made without involving the island.

“Nobody else than Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark have the mandate to make deals or agreements about Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without us,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a press conference.

“We have some red lines … We have to respect our territorial integrity. We have to respect international law, sovereignty,” he added.

US President Donald Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force after meeting Nato chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday, saying he had reached a “framework” of a deal on the Danish autonomous territory.

Details of the agreement made at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos remain scant.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen holds a press conference in Nuuk on Thursday. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen holds a press conference in Nuuk on Thursday. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix via Reuters

Nielsen said he was “happy” that Trump had stated that the use of force was off the table, but that he was not aware of the contents of the deal.

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster