Greenland’s lawmakers will expedite a session to address US threats, according to party leaders.

Greenland’s parliament is set to convene an earlier session to address its reaction to US threats regarding control of the Arctic island, according to a joint statement from the leaders of the five political parties in the Greenlandic assembly.

President Donald Trump has stated that the United States needs to take ownership of Greenland, an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from claiming the strategically important and mineral-rich territory in the future.

“We reiterate our wish for the US’s disregard for our nation to cease,” declared the leaders of all five political parties elected to Greenland’s parliament in their joint statement released late Friday.
“We do not aspire to be Americans, nor do we wish to be Danes; we wish to be Greenlanders,” they expressed in the statement shared on social media by Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

A session of Greenland’s parliament, the Inatsisartut, will be expedited to ensure that a robust and inclusive political discourse occurs and that the rights of the people are protected, the leaders noted.

The exact date for the meeting remains unspecified. Greenland’s parliament last convened in November and was initially scheduled to reconvene on February 3, as indicated on its website.

Trump’s renewed push for Greenland

On Friday, Trump stated he would “take action on Greenland whether they like it or not,” adding that the existing US military presence on the island under a 1951 agreement with NATO ally Denmark is insufficient for the island’s defense.

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, following US military actions in Venezuela, has raised concerns among the island’s 57,000 residents, many of whom aspire to achieve independence.

Also read: Donald Trump says US needs to own Greenland to deter Russia, China

A 2009 agreement between Greenland and Denmark clearly acknowledged the right of Greenlanders to seek independence if desired, but while all five parties express a desire for independence, they differ on the approach and timeline required to attain it.

“We must determine the future of our nation independently, without pressure for swift decisions, delays, or interference from other nations,” the party leaders asserted, emphasizing a desire for dialogue rooted in diplomacy and international principles.