Tag: denmark

Greenland status quo ‘not an option,’ Danish minister says after Vance visit

Denmark is open to discussions with the U.S. on how to “fix” the status quo in Greenland, the country’s foreign minister said, after Vice President JD Vance accused Copenhagen of failing to adequately protect the Arctic island during a controversial visit on Friday.

In a post to X addressed to Denmark’s “dear American friends” late Friday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his nation agrees that the “status quo” in the Arctic “is not an option.”

“So let’s talk about how we can fix it — together,” Rasmussen wrote.

In a video statement, Rasmussen acknowledged the “many accusations and many allegations” about Greenland. “Of course, we are open to criticism, but let me be completely honest — we do not appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered.”

“This is not how you speak to your close allies,” Rasmussen continued, “and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”

Danish and Greenlandic leaders have pushed back on Trump’s desire to gain control of Greenland. They have simultaneously criticized his perceived overreach while seeking to ease tensions by proposing deeper military and economic cooperation on the Arctic landmass.

“We respect that the United States needs a greater military presence in Greenland, as Vice President Vance mentioned this evening. We — Denmark and Greenland — are very much open to discussing this with you,” Rasmussen said in his statement.

The existing bilateral defense agreement — signed in 1951 — “offers ample opportunity for the United States to have a much stronger military presence in Greenland,” Rasmussen said. “If that is what you wish, then let us discuss it.”

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Payback: J.D. Vance calmly gives Denmark a real reason to be paranoid since they’re asking for it

Former U.S. diplomat Stephen Helgesen, who now lives in Denmark, has an interesting post today describing public sentiment in Denmark, which is almost universally, and quite hatefully, opposed to President Trump. He writes that it’s little different in Greenland, having access to their presses from his perch in Denmark as well.

For Americans, it’s become obvious enough from second lady Usha Vance’s planned visit to Greenland, which was greeted with an amazing amount of rage and paranoia from the Danes, some of the Greenlanders, and anti-American eurotrash all over the rest of Europe.

Helgesen writes:

… the Danish and Greenlandic press were quick to point out that they saw the arrival of two Hercules air transport planes show up at their civilian airport a few days ago as a bridge too far. To mix metaphors, America had crossed the Rubicon. The optics were, admittedly, bad for America. It looked like an invasion, albeit a benign one with armored vehicles and a few dozen security personnel. The Danes ended up sending a hundred or so Danish police from mainland Denmark seemingly as a countermeasure.

All this, to view an annual dogsled race on a remote iceblock island with a population of 59,000.

Now, one could argue that the incidental security sent might have seemed overdone to the Danes and Greenlanders, given that the locals are not used to this kind of attention, and might not even need major security.

Yet it was an overreaction, all the same. The security was likely standard operating procedure for the U.S. in this age of multiple assassination attempts on President Trump and the Secret Service can’t be too careful.

So instead of just dismissing it as Americans in action and going about their business, the Danes and their coevals decided to go bonkers, reading the big entourage from a major public figure from a major nation as an invasion force.

They howled. They organized protests. And they treated Mrs. Vance, who only wanted to make friends with them in a public diplomacy mission, as well as learn about their culture, as a menace to their existence.

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Danish Prime Minister: VP Vance is Right, Mass Migration Threatens Europe’s Way of Life

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is one of the few socialist leaders in Europe who hasn’t completely betrayed their nation’s blue-collar, working-class base. She recently stunned establishment politicians by agreeing with Vice President J.D. Vance’s assertion that mass migration is destroying the social fabric of Europe.

In an interview with Politico Europe published on Thursday, Frederiksen—who, unlike many of her social democrat counterparts in Europe’s political establishment, has curbed the rise of Denmark’s populist right by firmly opposing mass migration—conceded that Vice President J.D. Vance “had a point” in his Munich Security Conference speech when he warned of the threats posed by migration.

“I consider this mass migration into Europe as a threat to the daily life in Europe,” the prime minister said, echoing the position Vance voiced weeks earlier at the Munich Security Conference.

As Politico Europe points out, Frederiksen “stands out in a sea of conservatives in Europe as one of the only socialist leaders remaining in power across the bloc, in large part due to her severe policies on migration.”

At the conference, one of Europe’s most important, Vance stunned and outraged Europe’s globalist political elite by declaring, “Of all the pressing challenges faced by the nations represented here, none is more urgent than mass migration,” emphasizing that it poses a far greater threat than Russia.

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Three piglets stolen from art exhibit where they were meant to starve to death — until a 10-year-old girl spoke up

The three little pigs were rescued from the big, bad wolf.

Three piglets that were left to starve to death as part of a shocking art exhibit in Denmark have been stolen and saved from their horrific fate thanks to a 10-year-old girl begging her father to come to their rescue.

Artist Marco Evaristti opened the “And Now Your Care?” exhibit on Friday in Copenhagen to “wake up the Danish society” to the cruel treatment of factory-farmed pigs in the nation that is one of the world’s largest pork exporters.

To make his point, the native Chilean constructed a cage of hay and shopping carts, trapping a trio of adorable piglets inside with the express purpose of allowing them to starve to death. 

But the tiny pigs have been given a second chance at life after the conscience of a friend of the artist, Caspar Steffensen, prevailed over the unsavory demonstration.

Steffensen said his 10-year-old daughter begged him to “make sure the piggies won’t die.”

So the big-hearted dad teamed up with the animal rights group De Glemte Danske (the Forgotten Danes) to steal the animals even if it meant betraying his friend.

“When I was approached by an activist to help free the animals, I let them into the gallery secretively on Saturday,” Steffensen admitted to the Associated Press.

The pigs, named Simon, Lucia and Benjamin, were spirited away from their makeshift torture chamber and taken to a safe location by De Glemte Danske.

“On Saturday morning, we were contacted by one of Evarsitti’s colleagues, who informed us the pigs could be picked up before 11 o’clock on the same day,” the statement from the activist group posted Tuesday read.

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Greenlandic Grievances With Denmark and Trump’s Annexation Plan

One of my favorite places on Earth, Greenland, has suddenly become the center of worldwide attention as US President Donald Trump reiterated his 2019 proposal that the US should do whatever it takes to acquire Greenland from Denmark.  Trump’s interest stems from Greenland’s strategic location between the US and Russia, its large untapped deposits of oil, uranium, and rare earth minerals, and its control over Arctic trade routes, particularly the Northwest Passage, which is becoming increasingly navigable as Arctic sea ice disappears.

Trump’s 2019  attempt to buy Greenland outright (or even to trade Puerto Rico for it) was widely dismissed as a joke in both Washington and Copenhagen, but Trump clearly hasn’t let go of the idea, leading House Republican Andy Ogles to introduce the “Make Greenland Great Again Act.”

This renewed geopolitical focus on Greenland is deeply personal. As a human geneticist focused on the study of small, isolated populations, I have spent years researching the relationships between genetics, environment and health in Arctic populations. My experiences in the Arctic, as well as my ability to speak Kalaallisut, has given me insight into how Greenlanders themselves view their place in the world – perspectives often missing from outside analyses.

Because of my familiarity with the region, I knew immediately that Trump’s proposal would provoke a strong reaction in Greenland, where political leaders and everyday people alike see independence, not recolonization by the US, as their future. Múte B. Egede, the head of Greenland’s government Cabinet of Ministers, the Naalakkersuisut, was blunt: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. We are not and will never be for sale.” But he also acknowledged that Greenland’s economic future must involve more international partners, saying, “We remain open to cooperation and trade with our international partners… Not everything can be through Denmark.”

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Trump’s Greenland Takeover Threat Could Cause Denmark, and Other European Countries, To Reclaim their Sovereignty

“Today was January 7, 2025. The day when Denmark learned that we can no longer trust the United States. I will NEVER forget that day.”

So wrote political commentator, right-wing influencer Jarl Cordua on social media. This statement reflects what Denmark’s mass media are communicating in their editorials, and quoting influencers and experts on the U.S.-Denmark relationship—a new paradigm totally unexpected is taking place.

In Donald Trump’s second news conference since his election, he said that the U.S. needed Greenland—and the Panama Canal—for “economic security,” for “national security” and to “protect the Free World.”

When a journalist asked if could rule out use economic or military force to acquire them, he replied: “No I can’t assure you on either of those two.”

Trump further stated that, if Denmark resists his offer to purchase Greenland, he would impose tariffs on some of Denmark’s exports.

On the same day, Trump Jr. flew in his father’s private plane for a five-hour greeting to Greenlanders, some of whom were wearing red MAGA hats. “Red” does not stand for communism, rather anti-communist-socialist-social democrat Republicans.

Following his son’s visit, Trump Sr. said, “The reception has been great.” He continued, “Greenland and the Free World need safety, security, strength, and peace!” “Make Greenland great again!” he added.

January 7: Immediately upon hearing what Trump said, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen met with her coalition government for hours. When she, and Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (former PM for the rightest “Liberal” party), spoke to the media, her first words were:

“We have close relations with Greenland, Faroe Islands, EU, NATO, USA. We are prepared for the new president. We don’t think anything concrete will happen until Trump takes office. We don’t believe it will lead to such developments. We are USA’s closest ally, and other things are important too, such as our defense of Greenland. We are also a great contributor to NATO and Ukraine.”

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Euro lackeys pandering to Trump will escalate NATO’s conflict with Russia

It’s a bad combination. A bruising U.S. president with territorial expansion on his mercurial mind and European politicians without any backbone – all too eager to pander to the American bully.

Mixed in with that noxious brew, we also have European elites who are so obsessively Russophobic that they would stab each other in the back just to keep the proxy war on Russia at full throttle.

Donald Trump, whose policymaking is more befitting a Mafia real estate business, wants to grab Greenland as well as Canada, the Panama Canal, and anywhere else that takes his fancy. He wants to “clean out” Gaza, no doubt to flog beachfront properties to millionaires.

Trump has doubled down on his intention to annex Greenland – by military force if needed. His comments have caused Danish leaders to freak out, fearing that the president may order a military invasion of the Arctic island territory, a centuries-old colonial possession of Copenhagen.

Repeating earlier threats, Trump said last weekend: “I don’t really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn’t allow that to happen because it’s for the protection of the free world.” (Not like America’s God-given right to Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico, for example.)

Notice how Trump glosses his imperialist real estate interests with the virtue of “protecting the free world.”

The dainty Danes are reportedly in “crisis mode” over Trump’s aggressive takeover. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen went on a whirlwind tour of European capitals on Tuesday to drum up EU solidarity. She held urgent meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels – all in one day.

It’s hilarious to hear European non-entity politicians talk bravely about “defending Denmark” from American threats to its sovereignty and extraterritorial borders. They will do nothing of the sort.

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Trump Applies Heavy Pressure on Denmark for the Ownership of Greenland, Leaving Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Her Government in Full ‘Crisis Mode’

NATO member Denmark spent the last four years single-mindedly worried about the Russian danger, but was surprised by the territorial ambitions by the fest-moving US President Donald J. Trump.

After a telephone call between Trump and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, it has now been reported that the Danish Kingdom is in ‘crisis mode’ after Trump made a direct play for Greenland in a conversation being branded as ‘horrendous’.

The Telegraph reported:

“The US president spoke to Mette Frederiksen, the Danish premier, for 45 minutes last week and made clear he wanted to place Greenland under American control.”

Greenland is an autonomous Arctic territory owned by Denmark since 1814. But now, Trump wants it as a ‘valuable asset’ in the US’s competition against Russia and China.

“Ms. Frederiksen told him in their call last week that despite his ‘big interest’, Greenland was not for sale, the Financial Times reported. Mr. Trump then became ‘aggressive’, according to the newspaper, and threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark unless Greenland was sold to the US.”

Trump refused to rule out using military force to take Greenland, calling it a matter of ‘national security’ to own that Arctic base.

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Trump Energizes Greenland Independence Movement, Divorce Agreement Coming Up

The Wall Street Journal reports Trump’s Talk of Buying Greenland Energizes Island’s Independence Movement

Greenland is a self-ruling part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Danish government says it is willing to grant Greenland full independence if there is local support, and recent Greenlandic elections and polls indicate there is.

Trump’s recent threat of a trade war with Denmark is changing the negotiating dynamic, says Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. The Danish government now might be more open to agreeing a divorce deal that includes some continued payments to ease Greenland’s path to independence, he says. “My prognosis is that the Danish government will accept it in the next few years,” he says. An independent Greenland would then be free to forge its own security or economic ties with the U.S., Denmark or anyone else.

In April, Greenland goes to the polls in a vote that could fire the starter gun on independence for the territory of 57,000 people. The last time elections were held, pro-independence parties got 80% of the vote.

The prime minister of Greenland made a New Year’s address to the nation saying that a draft constitution for the country has been prepared and that the independence process should be triggered.

“It is now time to take the next step for our country,” Múte Egede said. “Like other countries in the world, we must work to remove the obstacles to cooperation—which we can describe as the shackles of the colonial era—and move on.” 

A 2009 Danish law lays out how Greenland can take the first step in the process: It must notify the Danish government, the two must negotiate a divorce agreement and the deal must then be ratified by a referendum in Greenland. The Greenlandic government has commissioned legal experts to work out the details of how step one would work with a two- year deadline.

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Are The Danes Up For A Two Front War?

Word is that Denmark plans to increase defense spending on Greenland, following Trump’s statement that acquiring Greenland for the US is “an absolute necessity.” The Danes had better watch their backs, because Russians like Trump’s idea—they see Trump’s idea as an endorsement, in effect, of a multipolar world:

Russians Respond to Donald Trump’s Greenland Proposal

Excerpts:

Russian media personalities have responded to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal regarding buying Greenland in a state broadcast show. In his show Evening with Vladimir Solovyov on Russia-1, host Vladimir Solovyov and others responded to Trump’s idea to potentially buy Greenland and voiced their support.

On his evening show, Solovyov and his guests largely cheered on Trump’s proposal to buy Greenland. Sergey Mikheyev, one of Solovyov’s pundits said that Trump’s proposal is in accordance with “the American mindset” that his predecessors attempted to “disguise and hide”.

“Trump simply says it straight—we are everything and you are nothing,” Mikheyev noted.

“This is especially interesting because it drives a wedge between him and Europe, it undermines the world architecture, and opens up certain opportunities for our foreign policy,” Mikheyev said, adding that if Trump “really wants to stop the third world war, the way out is simple: dividing up the world into spheres of influence.”

Stanislav Tkachenko, a top academic at the St. Petersburg State University also voiced his support for Trump’s discussion of buying Greenland and said that Russia should “thank Donald Trump, who is teaching us a new diplomatic language.”

“That is, to say it like it is. Maybe we won’t carve up the world like an apple, but we can certainly outline the parts of the world where our interests cannot be questioned.”

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