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Danish king’s Greenland trip pushed back a day amid Trump interest
Monday trip postponed after closure of Greenland’s airport due to bad weather. Trump has expressed interest in taking over the Arctic island
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Denmark’s King Frederik on Monday pushed back by one day a visit to Greenland planned to underscore unity with the Danish territory in response to US President Donald Trump’s interest in taking over the huge Arctic island.
The royal palace in Copenhagen said the trip was now expected to begin on Tuesday following the closure of the island’s main airport on Monday because of stormy weather.
The king, who has remained popular in Greenland despite recent strained relations between Greenland and Denmark, was set to arrive alongside Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is returning after a visit to Denmark.
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King Frederik, who ascended the throne last year, serves as Denmark’s symbolic head of state but does not hold formal political powers. Nevertheless, his visit will be a significant demonstration of Danish historical unity with semi-autonomous Greenland, according to political commentator Noa Redington.
“His presence and especially his welcome will send a very clear signal that Denmark and Greenland belong together for now,” said Redington.
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The visit follows months of tension stirred by Trump’s repeated assertions that Greenland should become part of the US.
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