The Danish monarch landed in Nuuk accompanied by Greenlandic President Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

On Tuesday, King Frederik X of Denmark began an official visit to Greenland amid growing interest from the United States in acquiring the autonomous territory located in the North Atlantic.

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Frederiksen and Nielsen To Renew Ties Between Denmark and Greenland

The monarch landed this morning in Nuuk (the capital), accompanied by Greenlandic President Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after the trip had been postponed by a day due to bad weather. Frederik X and Nielsen then went to the harbor to board a boat and tour the Nuuk Fjord, where they fished and enjoyed lunch.

“I’m not on any mission, I’m traveling to Greenland. I’m happy every time I come to Greenland. The weather is fantastic,” said the Danish monarch before boarding.

Nielsen emphasized the appreciation Greenlanders have for the Danish Royal Family and recalled the numerous trips Frederik has made to the island since his youth.

“I think it sends a signal that the King likes Greenland and that the strong ties that have existed between the Royal House and the Greenlandic population are still strong,” he said.

On Tuesday, Frederik X will be honored by the Greenlandic government (Naalakkersuisut) with a dinner, and tomorrow he will visit the University of Nuuk. A trip to a Danish military base in the north of the island scheduled for tomorrow was canceled due to weather conditions.

Nielsen traveled to Copenhagen on Sunday for a meeting with King Frederik and for meetings with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, politicians, and business leaders. During his stay in Denmark, Nielsen defended unity with Copenhagen while also advocating for a modernization of the relationship between the two territories.

“We are working to become an independent state and want to take major steps to lay the foundation,” said Nielsen, who leads a government that brings together the entire moderate independence movement.

Greenland has had the right to self-determination since 2009, when a new statute came into effect, replacing the previous one from 1979. Although the statute allows the autonomous government to take on new powers, about thirty areas—including courts and police—are still managed and funded from Copenhagen.

Greenland, with a population of just under 57,000 people across 2.2 million square kilometers (80% of which is permanently covered by ice), is heavily economically dependent on Denmark, which contributes around 40% of its annual revenue, and on fishing, which accounts for 90% of its exports.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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