Greenland official calls it ‘unfathomable’ that the US is contemplating taking on the island – Boston Information, Climate, Sports activities

LONDON (AP) — A senior Greenland authorities official says it’s “unfathomable” that the USA is discussing taking on a NATO ally, and urged the Trump administration to take heed to voices from the Arctic island nation.

Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for enterprise and mineral assets, mentioned individuals in Greenland are “very, very apprehensive” in regards to the U.S. rhetoric.

“Individuals are not sleeping, youngsters are afraid, and it simply fills every part lately. And we will’t actually perceive it,” she mentioned Tuesday at a gathering with lawmakers in Britain’s Parliament.

She mentioned “it’s simply unfathomable to know” that Greenland might be dealing with the prospect of being bought or annexed.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows under.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Denmark supplied U.S. forces within the east Atlantic with help final week as they intercepted an oil tanker for violations of U.S. sanctions, a Danish authorities official confirmed on Tuesday, regardless of tensions between the allies over the Trump administration’s need for management of Greenland.

The official, who was not approved to remark publicly on the delicate matter and spoke on the situation of anonymity, declined to supply particulars about what the help entailed.

However acknowledgement of Danish help for the U.S. operation comes after tensions spiraled between the NATO allies as President Donald Trump renewed requires the U.S. to take over Greenland. The huge Arctic island is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

The U.S. interception within the Atlantic capped a weekslong pursuit of the tanker that started within the Caribbean Sea because the U.S. imposed a blockade within the waters of Venezuela geared toward capturing sanctioned vessels coming out and in of the South American nation.

The White Home and Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Danish help for the U.S. operation was first reported by Newsmax.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the overseas ministers of Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday on the White Home to debate Trump’s curiosity in buying Greenland, in keeping with a U.S. official and two sources acquainted with the plans who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the assembly has not but been formally introduced.

Denmark’s overseas minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, mentioned earlier Tuesday that Vance would host a gathering with him and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, in Washington this week, with Rubio in attendance.

Løkke Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, has been overseas minister since 2022 within the authorities of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

At a joint information convention with Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that Greenland isn’t on the market, Danish media reported. He mentioned that the island is a part of the dominion of Denmark, and Greenland doesn’t need to be owned or dominated by the U.S.

Frederiksen additionally mentioned Greenland isn’t on the market and underlined Denmark’s willingness to spend money on Arctic safety. She mentioned it hasn’t been straightforward to face as much as unacceptable strain from a detailed ally and there are numerous indications that essentially the most tough half lies forward.

NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte refused to be drawn into the dispute, insisting that it was not his function to get entangled.

“I by no means, ever remark when there are discussions throughout the alliance,” Rutte mentioned, on the European Parliament in Brussels. “My function needs to be to ensure we clear up points.”

He mentioned that the 32-nation navy group should concentrate on offering safety within the Arctic area, which incorporates Greenland. “In relation to the safety of the Excessive North, that’s my function.”

Tensions have grown this month as Trump and his administration push the difficulty and the White Home considers a variety of choices, together with navy pressure, to amass Greenland. Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. must “take Greenland,” in any other case Russia or China would, in feedback aboard Air Pressure One on Sunday.

He mentioned he’d slightly “make a deal” for the territory, “however by some means, we’re going to have Greenland.”

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen for conferences on Friday and Saturday in an try to indicate unity between the USA and Denmark.

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