Greenland minister says trust with US needs rebuilding

Greenland’s foreign affairs minister says trust with the United States has been badly damaged by President Donald Trump’s efforts to gain control of Greenland. Múte B. Egede spoke as Greenland’s parliament, Inatsisartut, began considering a new agreement between the US, Greenland and Denmark, DR reported.

“Something has broken. There has been a serious breach of trust,” Egede said. He said Greenlanders had reason to lose faith in a friend that had acted disrespectfully, and that rebuilding trust would take time.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland. The prospect of possible US military action has caused palpable fear among Greenland’s population, Egede said.

The agreement allows the US to build new military bases in Greenland, including one at Mestersvig in the east and another at Narsarsuaq in the south. It also opens the way for Greenland to become part of a US missile defence system.

Egede said he was pleased with how the parties had worked during negotiations, describing the process as respectful. Inatsisartut is expected to make a final decision on the agreement on October 19. It is not yet known when Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, will consider it.