King Frederik X will visit the autonomous territory from Monday to Friday.

On Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s President Jens-Frederik Nielsen called for strengthening unity between their peoples in order to confront the United States’ interest in the autonomous territory.

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“Nothing is off the table, including a review of the Self-Government Act. Denmark is willing to invest in Greenlandic society,” Frederiksen said at a joint press conference held at her residence in Marienborg, north of Copenhagen.

In his first visit to Denmark since being elected president, Nielsen reiterated the importance of “coming closer together” in the face of a “new situation,” referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about the need to “acquire” the Arctic island for security reasons.

“We are ready for a new relationship based on greater cooperation and development, but we want respect. We will never be a property that someone can buy,” the Greenlandic president said, emphasizing that the matter with the United States has been dealt with “internally” alongside Copenhagen.

“We have initiated a modernization of the relationship between Greenland and Denmark. We are looking in many directions — both back at our shared history and its dark chapters, and forward to developing Greenlandic society and economy,” Frederiksen stated.

Greenland has had the right to self-determination since 2009, when a new Self-Government Act came into force, replacing the previous one from 1979. Although the Act allows the government to assume new powers in judicial and police areas, most competencies are still managed and financed by Copenhagen.

Greenland has a population of under 57,000 across 2.2 million square kilometers. Currently, about 40% of its annual revenue depends on Denmark. Frederiksen expressed openness to reforming the Self-Government Act and did not rule out Greenland assuming new powers without necessarily bearing the corresponding financial burden.

“We want to develop as part of the Commonwealth of the Realm to build a foundation for the future,” said Nielsen, who represents the more moderate wing of Greenlandic independence supporters.

On Monday, Nielsen will meet with business leaders and Danish legislators. He will also be received by King Frederik X, with whom he will travel to Greenland, where the monarch will remain until Friday. King Frederik X’s visit is “a sign that we are standing together” in the face of a new situation, Nielsen assured.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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