Denmark agreed to allow the United States to place a consulate in Greenland after a feud over President Trump’s offer to buy the island.
Trump frustrated Danish leaders after reports broke that he had asked his administration about trying to buy Greenland from Denmark. The giant island’s location could be strategically beneficial to the U.S.
He even posted a meme to Twitter about placing a giant, golden Trump tower on Greenland after the sale.
I promise not to do this to Greenland! pic.twitter.com/03DdyVU6HA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Trump’s remarks “absurd” and said there would be no sale. This outraged Trump, who called the prime minister “nasty” and canceled a diplomatic meeting between the two nations.
….The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
The Trump administration seemed to have patched up its relationship with Denmark because Frederiksen agreed to allow the U.S. to place a consulate in Greenland, according to Reuters. The last consulate the U.S. had in Greenland was used from 1940 to 1953.
Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod celebrated the announcement in a statement, saying, “We continue, together with Greenland, the dialogue with the United States about development in the Arctic and the close cooperation on U.S. engagement in Greenland.”
The Danish government will still have to approve the person put in charge of the consulate as the U.S. reintroduces itself to Greenland and the Arctic with its diplomatic and commercial presence.
