The election of Donald Trump has not prompted Greenland to alter its strategy in relation to the United States. Greenland is prepared to collaborate with any party with whom we have a close relationship, including the United States, according to Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt.
Vivian Motzfeldt: The government of Greenland wishes Donald Trump congratulations on his election victory and is ready to cooperate with the future president. Photo ©: KNR
It is now clear that Donald Trump returns as president of the United States, the world's most powerful country.
What policy he will pursue in relation to Greenland, however, is still uncertain. During his last term in office, Trump attracted attention when he proposed buying Greenland, an idea that was rejected by the political leaders of Denmark and Greenland.
But Greenland is far from a closed chapter for people associated with the Republican Party. Former employees under Trump have recently argued that the US should seek to establish closer ties with Greenland.
One of them is Alex Gray, former chief of staff in the White House under Trump, who believes that it will be in everyone's interest if the US and Greenland enter into a 'free association' agreement.
This compact [agreement - ed.] is a tested way in which we can strengthen the collective ties between all three, between Greenland, Denmark and the USA, in a way that serves everyone's interests, said Alex Gray to DR.
Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt, told KNR that the government of Greenland is ready to cooperate with Trump, but that it is too early to speculate on what the new political course in the US will be.
Our strategy has made it clear that we want to develop closer cooperation with the countries that are closest to us, and the USA is included here. Therefore, I fully expect that the work will continue with these topics in focus, she told KNR.
In Greenland's foreign security and defense policy strategy for 2024 to 2033, it states, among other things, that Greenland will work for direct trade and transport routes between Greenland and the USA, and that Greenland works for an extension of the Defense Agreement of 1951. It is an agreement concluded between the USA, Denmark and Greenland on the defense of Greenland.
Free association is a political-legal model that was introduced by the UN after the Second World War as part of the UN's decolonization process.
The agreement consists of a collaboration between two independent states. One state or country can then choose to cede authority over selected areas to the other party to the agreement if it lacks the capacity or resources to handle the area alone. Here a financial agreement can take place. It could, for example, be an area such as the military that is being collaborated on.
The framework for free association agreements can look different. It is up to the countries to negotiate an agreement.
Five states in the world have entered into free association agreements as part of independence. The Cook Islands and Niue have free association agreements with New Zealand. Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau are in free association with the United States.
It is unclear what a possible free association agreement between the US and Greenland will entail.
Based on similar agreements that already exist, it could give Greenland a closer political and economic connection to the United States, while Greenland still retains its autonomy. The United States, for its part, will be responsible for defense and financial support – tasks which are currently handled by the Kingdom of Denmark.
However, it is uncertain whether such an agreement will be attractive to the elected representatives here.
According to Rasmus Leander Nielsen, associate professor and head of Nasiffik at Ilisimatusarfik, Greenland will require greater co-determination in order to accept a free association model.
There will simply be a greater demand on Greenland's side that you must have influence. Free association is a really interesting concept, and it may well be a model that Greenland will work with in the future, he said to DR.
Vivian Motzfeldt emphasizes Greenland's self-interests when she is asked whether a free association agreement between the US and Greenland is relevant.
She points out that decisions about Greenland's future positioning on the global stage must be made based on the country's overall interests.
It is important that we as a united country consider how we should position ourselves going forward, not based on individual political positions, but Greenland's interests as a united country. This is given the highest priority of all, she said.
Source: KNR
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