Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Mette Frederiksen will hold a press conference in Copenhagen at 12 Greenland time.
This is stated by the Prime Minister's Office in a press release:
- The Prime Minister and the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut give a statement about the current situation, says the invitation.
It is to be expected that the chairman of Naalakkersuisut and the Prime Minister will address the highly tense situation surrounding US President Donald Trump's statements about Greenland.
The press conference is underway - the most difficult is ahead of us
Then the press conference begins and it is Mette Frederiksen who makes the announcement.
She says that although it has been a challenging year in relation to the USA, the most difficult lies ahead:
- This is not only about Denmark and the Kingdom. It is about not being able to change borders by force. That you cannot buy another people, and that small countries should not fear big countries, says Mette Frederiksen.
Regarding the meeting on Wednesday in Washington, the Prime Minister emphasizes that Denmark and Greenland will stand together:
- We're coming together. We stay together. And we go together, she says, and emphasizes that the message will be that Greenland is not for sale.
She also says that they are of course prepared to strengthen security in the Arctic.
- NATO must protect Greenland just like every other NATO territory, says Mette Frederiksen.
Jens-Frederik: Greenland is not for sale
After Mette Frederiksen, Jens-Frederik Nielsen takes the floor.
He begins by emphasizing that Greenland is not for sale and that Greenland is part of the Kingdom.
- We are a rule of law based on democratic values, based on self-government under the Kingdom of Denmark.
He goes on to say that the situation is very serious and that the geopolitical situation has put a lot of pressure on Greenland.
- We have great faith in the Nato alliance and its support.
- But the support from Denmark and European allies is absolutely crucial in this situation, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Jens-Frederik says that Greenland's wish and goal is dialogue with respect for Greenland's constitutional position as well as international law and the Greenlanders' right to self-determination.
He asserts:
- One thing everyone must understand. Greenland will not be owned by the United States. Greenland will not be governed by the United States. Greenland will not be part of the United States, it sounds harsh to the naalakkersuisut chairman.
- We choose the Greenland we know today, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
If we have to choose..
Jens-Frederik Nielsen goes on to say that if Greenland has to choose here and now, then you choose the Kingdom, the EU and Nato.
- The time is not for internal discussions and division. The time is to stand together and build on the community we know, he says.
- What can Denmark offer the Americans?
Then there are questions from the press.
A journalist from DR asks Mette Frederiksen about what Denmark can offer the USA in this situation.
The Prime Minister replies that Denmark can offer to be a good ally.
- We have a northern flank which concerns the Arctic, and we are, if anything, interested in maintaining security in the Arctic area, she says and continues:
- We can offer democratic cooperation between independent states that respect each other and do what is best for their populations.
Jens-Frederik is simultaneously asked what he would say to the Americans if they wanted to have a conversation with him alone:
- My answer is very short. We stand together, so we enter the room together and we leave together and we talk to the Americans together.
What if the Americans make an offer?
Sermitsiaq's reporter now asks if Marco Rubio and JD Vance at the meeting on Wednesday come up with a definite offer or in some other way set up negotiations about Greenland's future, how will Greenland react?
Jens-Frederik Nielsen makes it clear again that Greenland's future is defined by the current framework:
- Greenland's future must be defined by Greenland in the constitutional form we have today.
- Greenland is not for sale, and the mere talk of being able to buy a people, being able to buy us, is not respectful, and we are still there, and that is the message we will be traveling to the United States with tomorrow.
Why isn't the Prime Minister leaving?
Mette Frederiksen is asked why she does not go to the press conference herself, now that the Americans have moved the meeting to the White House.
Here the Prime Minister emphasizes that the message is the same no matter who leaves.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen is also asked whether talk of independence from Greenland's side now ends, now that Denmark has been chosen.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen says that this is not the time to discuss internal matters:
- Greenland is in the Kingdom of Denmark, and we stand together to protect fundamental principles.
- We are in the eye of the hurricane in Greenland. The Greenlandic population has been exposed to that pressure for a long time now. But it is also a question of the world order as we know it.
- If you start to deflect the principles that have been built up over many years, then it is only then that the Kingdom and Greenland, as well as the rest of the world, will have to face some challenges that will be difficult to deal with, to put it bluntly.
Earlier today it emerged that the USA is also sending Vice President J.D. Vance to the meeting between the foreign ministers from the USA, Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday.
Donald Trump has within the past week turned up his rhetoric about Greenland. He has said, among other things, that Greenland should enter into an agreement with the USA, because otherwise Russia or China will take over Greenland in the long term:
- We are talking about acquiring it (Greenland, ed.), not about having it in the short term. We are talking about acquiring it. And if we don't, Russia or China will, and that's not going to happen when I'm president," Trump said.
Sermitsiaq will update this article once the press conference gets underway.
