Only Greenland and Denmark can decide on their own future says Finnish President
US President Donald Trump has reiterated his threat to take Greenland from NATO ally Denmark.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb says that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters that concern them. Stubb made the comment on X late Sunday evening.
“No one decides for Greenland and Denmark but Greenland and Denmark themselves. Our Nordic friend Denmark and [Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen] have our full support,” he wrote.
Stubb retweeted a statement by Frederiksen, in which she said that it makes “absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland”, adding that “the US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom. I would therefore strongly urge the US stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale”.
Finland has close ties with Denmark as a fellow member of the Nordic Council, EU and Nato.
Stubb has been seen as one of the western European leaders with the closest ties to US President Donald Trump, who said in an interview with the Atlantic magazine published on Sunday that the US “need[s] Greenland from the standpoint of national security”.
“We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months. Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” he added.
“Disrespectful” post
Earlier on Sunday, the wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff shared a photo on X showing Greenland covered with the American flag and the word “soon”.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called the post “disrespectful”.
“Our country is not for sale and our future is not determined by social media posts,” Nielsen posted on Facebook.
According to Danish media, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer contacted Frederiksen on Sunday to discuss the countries’ common front against Trump’s threats.
PM: Finland promotes NATO’s role in Arctic security
Later on Monday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) also commented on the situation regarding Greenland. Speaking to the Finnish news agency STT, he echoed Stubb’s statement, saying that only the Greenlanders and the Danes can decide on matters concerning their countries. All states have a responsibility to respect international law, the premier added.
Orpo told STT that Finland and the other Nordic countries reiterated their support for Denmark and Greenland on Sunday evening, while Finland is promoting NATO’s role in strengthening Arctic security.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Analysis shows climate impacts will increasingly strain Canada’s Arctic defence infrastructure, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Danish intelligence report warns of US military threat under Trump, The Associated Press
Finland: PM: Finland supports Greenland remaining part of Denmark, Yle News
Greenland: Greenland says ‘no more fantasies about annexation’ after Trump remarks, Reuters
Iceland: NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: “We want to be Europe’s most integrated region in terms of defence”, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian navy chief accuses NATO of stepping up spying activities in the Arctic, TASS reports, Reuters
Sweden: Sweden critical of Trump’s latest push for Greenland, Radio Sweden
United States: Washington’s new envoy to Denmark pledges more US support for Greenland, Reuters
