The disagreement with a former US president Donald Trump, over Greenland has been reaffirmed by Denmark and this shows there has been a disagreement that can come up again when a former US president returns to power as that happened with Donald Trump.
The Greenland status and security in question could not be politicized for trade according to the Danish government after Trump indicated that there are specific reasons that make the United States want to have more control over Greenland.
Greenland is a kingdom in Denmark that has shown that it is not for sale.
The position of the Danish government as taken up by the Danish Minister Peter Mandrup is that the future of Greenland can only be determined by the Greenlanders themselves and that it will be in accordance with the principles of international law and constitutional order.
The Danish government emphasizes that it values its close relationship with Washington DC but it would never be ambivalent about sovereignty.
Recent remarks by Trump have reopened concerns for Copenhagen about what another Trump presidency might mean for transatlantic relations, specifically with regards to the Arctic region.
Greenland is a highly sensitive location caught between North America and Europe which hosts a significant American military facility at Pituffik Space Base.
The Pituffik Space Base is known to contribute to America’s missile warning and space surveillance system and is, as such a key location for NATO’s Northern defense.
Denmark has been pursuing a policy of combining a strong rejection of any threat to sovereignty with a message that it is committed to Arctic security.
Various Danish administrations have increased their military expenditure in the region while cooperating with the US as well as NATO.
The situation also throws into sharp relief the increasing geopolitical significance of the Arctic because of global warming which is opening new shipping lanes and mineral deposits to exploitation.
Both Russia and China have recently increased their attention to this region leading Western capitals to reconsider their stance on their own security politics.
Trump’s declarations are clearly motivated by this context but Denmark takes a contrary view because they must address common challenges together.
In Europe, it is another episode that recalls the uncertainty that could come with a change of leadership in the US.
While Danish officials have refrained from attacking Trump personally they have stuck to their principles. They claim the quarrel with Trump is a matter of principles since it involves sovereignty.
Although the initial impact is only verbal the implications are broad in the sense of the alliance’s cohesion.
Denmark is one of the most important members of the alliance although it is a small country. It is also an important Arctic nation.
It would be a challenge for the trust aspect of the alliance if it felt that its land could be used as a negotiating point.
But for now, Copenhagen’s voice is strong and stable.
Greenland status is not something that is open for negotiation and there is no scenario in which that stance will alter come who may in the White House.
