Donald Trump’s interest in entering into a trade deal with Denmark over Greenland, a semi-autonomous land mass that is also the world’s largest island, is pushing the boundaries of absurdity after the US president cancelled a visit to the European country.
It was initially dismissed as “an April Fool’s Day joke” by former Danish premier Lars Lokke Rasmussen, but Trump made it clear that he wasn’t kidding when he said such a purchase would be “a large real estate deal”.
Although Trump was invited by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, the US leader called off his visit after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said they had no interest in discussing the possible sale of a country whose people were essentially self-governing.
Trump’s decision now seems set to have caused embarrassment for the White House as it’s generally regarded as a contravention of royal protocol and very bad for diplomatic relations if any head of state single-handedly cancels an audience with a king or queen.
Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, a Greenland lawmaker and member of the indigenous Inuit Ataqatigiit party has since indicated that although Trump has never spoken to the local population about whether they would be interested in maybe withdrawing from their union with Denmark for the US’s sake, they would most likely prefer a status quo situation.
Danish politician Kristian Jensen was less understanding of Trump’s realty overtures, stating that “everyone should know Greenland is not for sale”.
It has since emerged that the strategic location of the mineral-rich island, situated in an area that could be logistically unlocked through ice cap melt, has made it a very attractive country - not just for the States but for China and Russia too.
