Greenland ministers hail Arctic security agreement with relief

Greenland’s official leadership has welcomed the newly signed security agreement between Denmark, the United States and Greenland, DR reports. Three ministers from the Demokraatit party said they were relieved after months of uncertainty.

“We feel safe and proud. After many months, we can finally breathe,” Education Minister Nivi Olsen said at the party’s office in Nuuk, Greenland.

The ministers followed the day’s events on television, with Greenlandic broadcaster KNR continuing to report the latest developments.

“It was completely silent until the final signature was made. Then there was a sigh of relief, and we stood up, hugged each other and shed a little tear,” Health Minister Anna Wangenheim said.

She said the atmosphere at the office was relieved and positive.

Demokraatit is the party of Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of Naalakkersuisut. The ministers praised his handling of the agreement and his speech at the signing.

“We know him so well that we can tell what he looks like when he is nervous. In such a historic moment, we could see that he was very composed and clear. We are simply very proud of him,” Olsen said.

Fishing Minister Peter Borg said the ministers especially welcomed the emphasis Nielsen placed on Greenland’s role in the negotiations leading up to the agreement.

“We thought the speech went really, really well, and he covered everything important. It is a victory for Greenland, the United States, NATO and therefore also the European Union,” Borg said.

He added that Nielsen had stressed Greenland’s participation in negotiations and meetings, as well as in the signing of agreements concerning Greenland.

At a press conference, Nielsen also said Greenland had never bowed to threats from the United States and had maintained its red lines from the beginning.