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Reuters
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Denmark's king visits Greenland in show of unity amid Trump interest in territory
COPENHAGEN, April 28 (Reuters) - Denmark's King Frederik was set on Monday to begin a visit to Greenland to underscore unity with the semi-autonomous Danish territory in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the huge Arctic island. The king, who has remained popular in Greenland despite recent strained relations between it and Denmark, will arrive alongside Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is returning after a three-day visit to Denmark. 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 is a significant demonstration of historical unity, 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. The visit follows months of tension stirred by Trump's repeated assertions that Greenland should become part of the United States. In December, Greenland's then-premier accused Denmark of historical "genocide" there and then stepped up a push for independence in January. But Nielsen, who assumed office this month, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen affirmed their alliance at a joint press conference in Copenhagen on Sunday. The Danish royal family traditionally makes annual visits to the Arctic island, often disembarking their royal yacht wearing Greenland national dress. King Frederik has spent extended periods of time there, including a four-month expedition on the island's Arctic ice sheet. During his trip, Frederik is scheduled to visit the island's capital Nuuk as well as Station Nord, a military outpost in its far north. He will also join the Sirius Patrol, a special forces command that uses dog sleds to cross Greenland's vast ice sheet. The patrol unit was previously mocked by Trump as a symbol that Denmark doesn't spend enough on defense in Greenland. Greenland, a Danish colony until 1953, officially became part of Denmark that year. It is now a self-governing territory of Denmark and secured the right to claim independence through a vote in 2009. Relations between Greenland and Denmark suffered in recent years due to revelations of historical mistreatment of Greenlanders under colonial rule. However, Trump's interest in the island has spurred Denmark to expedite efforts to rehabilitate ties with the territory, saying it is ready to devote more investment and financial assistance to Greenland.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Denmark's king visits Greenland in show of unity amid Trump interest in territory
COPENHAGEN - Denmark's King Frederik was set on Monday to begin a visit to Greenland to underscore unity with the semi-autonomous Danish territory in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the huge Arctic island. The king, who has remained popular in Greenland despite recent strained relations between it and Denmark, will arrive alongside Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is returning after a three-day visit to Denmark. 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 is a significant demonstration of historical unity, 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. The visit follows months of tension stirred by Trump's repeated assertions that Greenland should become part of the United States. In December, Greenland's then-premier accused Denmark of historical "genocide" there and then stepped up a push for independence in January. But Nielsen, who assumed office this month, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen affirmed their alliance at a joint press conference in Copenhagen on Sunday. The Danish royal family traditionally makes annual visits to the Arctic island, often disembarking their royal yacht wearing Greenland national dress. King Frederik has spent extended periods of time there, including a four-month expedition on the island's Arctic ice sheet. During his trip, Frederik is scheduled to visit the island's capital Nuuk as well as Station Nord, a military outpost in its far north. He will also join the Sirius Patrol, a special forces command that uses dog sleds to cross Greenland's vast ice sheet. The patrol unit was previously mocked by Trump as a symbol that Denmark doesn't spend enough on defense in Greenland. Greenland, a Danish colony until 1953, officially became part of Denmark that year. It is now a self-governing territory of Denmark and secured the right to claim independence through a vote in 2009. Relations between Greenland and Denmark suffered in recent years due to revelations of historical mistreatment of Greenlanders under colonial rule. However, Trump's interest in the island has spurred Denmark to expedite efforts to rehabilitate ties with the territory, saying it is ready to devote more investment and financial assistance to Greenland. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Danish king to visit Greenland in show of unity amid Trump interest
Denmark's King Frederik X looks on as he attends a conference on sustainable food production in Tokyo, Japan, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon COPENHAGEN - Denmark's King Frederik will visit Greenland next week, the royal palace said on Wednesday, in a show of solidarity with the semi-autonomous Danish territory that U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to control. In a further display of unity, Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, will travel to Denmark for talks on April 26, the Greenlandic and Danish governments said. Greenland is rich in raw materials, including minerals critical to advance new technologies, and Trump has said the United States needs control of the strategically-located island for reasons of national and international security. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have said that only Greenlanders can decide the territory's future. "We live in a time that calls for unity. We must support each other in the difficult foreign policy situation that Greenland and the Danish Realm currently are in," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement. She and Nielsen will discuss the geopolitical situation and ties between Denmark and Greenland, Nielsen told Greenlandic daily newspaper Sermitsiaq. King Frederik, who is Denmark's head of state but does not hold formal political powers, will go to Greenland with Nielsen when the prime minister returns to the Arctic island on April 28. The king last visited Greenland with his wife Queen Mary from June 29-July 6 last year. During a visit to Greenland last month, U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark of not doing a good job of keeping the island safe from Russia and China, and suggested the U.S. could better protect the territory. Frederiksen also visited Greenland this month and said the United States "shall not take over Greenland". She called for increased Arctic defence collaboration with the United States and dismissed the U.S. desire to annex the island. Relations between Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland's capital, have often been difficult but King Frederik and the wider royal family are popular among the people of Greenland. The king will visit Nuuk as well as going to Station Nord, a military outpost in the far north, and the Sirius Patrol, a special forces command that uses dog sleds to travel across the Greenland's vast glacier. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
