Rubio made the statement while responding to reporters’ questions about Washington’s rejection of Denmark’s offer for dialogue and whether the U.S. is prepared to rule out military intervention.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that Greenland should become part of the United States for reasons of national security and the protection of the “free world.”
Former Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede responded by stressing that the island is not for sale and never will be. Nevertheless, Trump has refused to pledge that he would not use military force to take control of Greenland.
Greenlanders Reject Becoming Part of the U.S.
Opposition has also emerged from within Greenland itself. Leaders of the island’s five political parties have firmly rejected any attempt by the United States to annex their territory.
“We do not want to be Americans. We do not want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders,” they said in a joint statement released on Friday (Jan. 9).
They emphasized that Greenland’s future must be determined solely by the Greenlandic people. The statement also highlighted the island’s growing international role and participation in recent years.
According to the leaders, any discussion of Trump’s plans must be based on diplomacy and the principles of international law and relations.
To that end, they announced that a session of the Inatsisartut (Greenland’s parliament) would be brought forward to ensure a fair and comprehensive political debate and to safeguard the rights of the Greenlandic people.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 and remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark to this day.
However, since 2009 it has enjoyed autonomous status, granting it broad authority to manage its own governance and policies.
In addition to its rich deposits of rare earth minerals, Greenland is also believed to hold vast reserves of fossil energy.***
