Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede is ready to seek dialogue with US President-elect Donald Trump, Reuters reports.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, has expressed an appetite for the former Danish territory. He did not rule out the potential use of military or economic means, including tariffs against Denmark.
At a press conference in Copenhagen, Egede clarified that he had not had contact with Donald Trump but was ready to hold a conversation with him. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen indicated that she had requested a meeting with Trump but did not expect this to happen before his inauguration.
Greenland, home to 57,000 people, was a Danish territory until 1953. The island is currently self-governing. In 2009, Greenland secured the right to claim independence through a vote.
The United States maintains a military base in the northern part of the island.
Egede noted that Greenland has a desire for independence and a desire to be the master of its own house. According to him, this is something that everyone should respect. But this does not mean that we are severing all ties, all cooperation and all relations with Denmark, he added.