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Greenland’s new prime minister says island cannot be bought, US is not showing respect

Jens-Frederik Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of Trump’s interest in taking control of the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark

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Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, left, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen ahead of a meeting at Marienborg in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
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New Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday that US statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone”.

Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategic territory as Nielsen stood side by side with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the second day of a three-day official visit. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

“The talks from the United States have not been respectful,” Nielsen said at a news conference at the prime minister’s Marienborg official residence in Lyngby, 12km (8 miles) north of Copenhagen.

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“The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together,” he added.

Political parties in Greenland, which has been leaning towards eventual independence from Denmark for years, recently agreed to form a broad-based new coalition government in the face of Trump’s designs on the territory.
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Greenland’s government said Nielsen’s three-day visit, which began on Saturday, was aimed at future cooperation between the two countries.

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