We select Denmark over the U.S.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated on Tuesday that the Arctic island chooses Denmark over the U.S., pushing again in opposition to Donald Trump’s repeated takeover threats.

“If we’ve to decide on between the USA and Denmark right here and now, we select Denmark. We select NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark and the EU,” Nielsen stated, in accordance to translated feedback reported by Danish public broadcaster DR.

He was talking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a information convention in Copenhagen, forward of crunch talks between U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officers on the White Home on Wednesday.

“The time has come to face collectively,” Nielsen added.

“It has not been straightforward to face as much as fully unacceptable stress from our closest allies for a lifetime. However there may be a lot to counsel that the toughest half remains to be forward of us,” Frederiksen stated.

Trump’s renewed curiosity in buying Greenland follows an audacious U.S. army operation to grab Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3.

Trump, who has lengthy advocated for management over Greenland, has stated the U.S. wants the Arctic island to stop Russia and China from doing the identical, telling reporters that Washington would purchase the self-governing Danish territory “come what may.”

The U.S. president has additionally stated that the mineral-rich island, which is strategically located between Europe and North America, is important “from the standpoint of nationwide safety.”

Opinion polls have beforehand proven that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. management, whereas a robust majority help independence from Denmark.

Denmark has pledged to spice up healthcare spending and infrastructure investments in current months, whereas additionally looking for to defuse tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic protection, together with the acquisition of 16 extra F-35 fighter jets.