NUUK, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greenlandic minister Naaja Nathanielsen Saturday praised the reaction of European countries targeted by US President Donald Trump’s new tariff threats linked to the future of the Arctic island.
“I am amazed to witness the first responses from the targeted countries,” the minister for mineral resources said in a message posted on LinkedIn. “I am thankful and hopeful for diplomacy and allieship to prevail.”
Earlier the same day, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on imports from eight European nations that sent troops to Greenland, the Danish territory which Trump seeks control of. Several European leaders condemned the threats as “unacceptable.”
In COPENHAGEN, thousands of people took to the streets of Denmark’s capital on Saturday to protest at Trump’s push to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
The protest followed Trump’s warning on Friday that he “may put a tariff” on countries that oppose his plans to take over mineral-rich Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.
They also coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress that has made clear the opposition of many Americans to the Trump administration’s sabre-rattling.
Waving the flags of Denmark and Greenland, the protesters formed a sea of red and white outside Copenhagen city hall, chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!” – the vast Arctic island’s name in Greenlandic.
Thousands of people had said on social media they would to take part in marches and rallies organised by Greenlandic associations in Copenhagen, and in Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense and the Greenlandic capital Nuuk.
“The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights,” Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, said on its website.
A sister demonstration was scheduled to happen in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, at 4pm (1500 GMT), to protest the US’ “illegal plans to take control of Greenland”, organisers said. Demonstrators would march to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags.
The Copenhagen rally, which began at 12pm (1100 GMT), was due to make a stop outside the US embassy in the Danish capital.
European NATO members are deploying troops in Greenland for a military exercise designed to show the world, including the United States, that they will “defend (their) sovereignty”, French armed forces minister Alice Rufo said this week.
Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have announced they are sending small numbers of military personnel to prepare for future exercises in the Arctic.
The United States has been invited to participate in the excercise, Denmark said on Friday. — NNN-AGENCIES