Danish premier says US desire to take over Greenland is 'unfortunately intact'

ISTANBUL

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Thursday that US President Donald Trump's Greenland takeover bid remains the same.

"Unfortunately, I still believe that the American president's desire to take over Greenland is intact, and therefore this situation is serious, and it has been so all along," Frederiksen told reporters as EU leaders gathered in Brussels, according to broadcaster DR.

She reaffirmed that negotiations are underway with the Americans. "I hope for a good result," she said.

"We have been in the most difficult foreign policy situation since the World War II, and the only reason why we are in a better place today is because we have close, strong and good European allies, and that we have invested time and effort and our personal resources into that cooperation," Frederiksen noted.

She warned that one "must never turn" its back on the world in today's age.

Frederiksen's remarks came after the DR broadcaster revealed that soldiers have been preparing for a possible US attack on Greenland amid Trump's takeover threats.

When Danish soldiers were flown to Greenland in January, they reportedly brought explosives to destroy key runways and blood supplies to treat the wounded in a bid to prepare to block a possible US takeover.

Trump has renewed his interest in controlling Greenland in recent months, citing national security concerns about Russia and China. He threatened sanctions against European countries that opposed the move.

Trump later withdrew the threats after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, saying they had established a framework for a potential agreement involving Greenland and the broader Arctic region, followed by talks between the US, Denmark and Greenland.