Greenland’s government said the autonomous Danish territory is not for sale after President Trump privately discussed purchasing it.
“We are open for business, but we’re not for sale,” Greenland’s foreign minister Ane Lone Bagger told Reuters on Friday. A tweet from the foreign ministry repeated the message.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in buying the world’s biggest island, asking advisers whether it’s possible for the U.S. to acquire Greenland.
#Greenland is rich in valuable resources such as minerals, the purest water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy and is a new frontier for adventure tourism. We’re open for business, not for sale❄️????? learn more about Greenland on: https://t.co/WulOi3beIC
— Greenland MFA ?? (@GreenlandMFA) August 16, 2019
Greenland is garnering more attention from the U.S., Russia, and China for its location in the Arctic and its mineral resources. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May the U.S. was closely watching Russia and China’s actions in the Arctic.
The island is self-ruled but relies on Copenhagen for economic support, defense, and foreign policy. Trump is scheduled to visit Copenhagen next month to meet with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland about unrelated matters.
“If he is truly contemplating this, then this is final proof, that he has gone mad,” said Soren Espersen, the foreign affairs spokesman for the Danish People’s Party.
“The thought of Denmark selling 50,000 citizens to the United States is completely ridiculous,” he said.
