A senior Greenlandic official dismissed President Trump’s desire for the U.S. to gain sovereignty over the land on which its military base sits.
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister of industry, raw materials, mining, energy, law enforcement and equality, told USA Today on Sunday that the president’s proposal is a “red line.”
Trump claimed to the New York Post Friday that the U.S. will secure control over the land occupied by Pituffik Space Base, where the military conducts missile defense and space surveillance operations.
“We’ll have everything we want,” the president added. “We have some interesting talks going on.”
But Nathanielsen, echoing remarks from Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, said Sunday that her country “giving up sovereignty is not on the table for now.”
he has been interested in acquiring throughout his second term, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The president also backed off imposing 10 percent tariffs on various European nations over their support for Greenland’s sovereignty.
The agreement, which has not been finalized, gives the U.S. preferential access to the Danish territory’s minerals and updates the 1951 deal between the U.S and Greenland.
That agreement allowed the U.S. military to operate in the country’s designated defense areas.
“The Government of the United States of America may enjoy, for its public vessels and aircraft and its armed forces and vehicles, the right of free access to and movement between the defense areas through Greenland, including territorial waters, by land, air and sea,” the agreement read.
“This right shall include freedom from compulsory pilotage and from light or harbor dues. United States aircraft may fly over and land in any territory in Greenland, including the territorial waters thereof, without restriction except as mutually agreed upon.”
