OSLO - The Danish government has requested US President-elect Donald Trump for a phone conversation following his controversial remarks on Greenland, but no official response has been received yet, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a press conference late Thursday.
In a meeting before the press conference, all party leaders in Folketing, the Danish Parliament, were briefed on ongoing diplomatic efforts on the Danish side after Trump said he would not rule out military measures to gain control over Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory.
Frederiksen emphasized that it currently has no reason to believe Trump would act on his statements, while Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said: "We should take him seriously, but not literally".
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The prime minister also revealed that informal dialogue with the incoming US administration has started since Trump's election victory in November. She expressed hope for further talks following Trump's official inauguration.
However, dissatisfaction emerged among political parties following the briefing. The Danish People's Party called for clearer policies regarding Greenland's autonomy, while the left-wing Red-Green Alliance criticized the government's stance as too lenient toward the United States.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store condemned Trump's remarks, warning of the threat to NATO unity and European stability.
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"It is unacceptable to suggest the use of military force against an ally or to imply intentions to claim territories under another nation's sovereignty," Store on Thursday told national broadcaster NRK.
Trump's renewed interest in Greenland comes four years after his 2019 proposal to purchase the autonomous Danish territory, an idea Denmark promptly dismissed. This time, his remarks regarding military options have escalated tensions, drawing widespread condemnation from European leaders.
"Trump communicates politics in a way that differs greatly from traditional diplomacy," Store remarked, referencing lessons learned during Trump's first presidency. "But I must make it clear that such statements are entirely unacceptable."
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Trump's remarks also sparked speculation about potential US interest in Svalbard, a strategically important Arctic region. "Norway has full control over Svalbard. It is, and will remain, Norwegian territory," Store stated.
Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark, granting the Greenlanders Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while remaining under Denmark's authority for foreign and defense policy.
