Berlin [Germany], January 28: Denmark intends to "do all" it can to reach agreement with the United States over Greenland, short of surrendering territory, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday.
Asked whether Greenlandic territory could be handed over to the US, Frederiksen said such a move was inconceivable. "No, one can't imagine that," said during an interview with German public broadcaster ARD's "Maischberger" programme.
After insisting that the US needed to have ownership of the largely autonomous Danish island, President Donald Trump last week ruled out using force to acquire it and said that there was a "framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland." His remarks followed talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump also lifted the threat of sanctions he had earlier announced for European allies that supported Denmark.
In the ARD interview, Frederiksen saw this as a success in the conflict with the US.
"When Europe stands together, defends itself and speaks with one voice, then it works," she said.
"We now have a diplomatic track with the Americans and have to see whether we can reach agreement," she added.
Frederiksen declined to be drawn on the content of talks with the US and said it was not clear how long the negotiations would take.
"Parallel to the talks that we are now conducting with the Americans, we Europeans have to be clear to ourselves that the old world is gone," she said.
"I do not believe that it will return. For us Europeans, it is for that reason of utmost importance that we rely on rearmament."(DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
