Denmark warns against foreign intervention ahead of general poll in Greenland

ISTANBUL

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday warned against foreign intervention ahead of the general elections in Greenland.

“I think it's important that it's free and fair and without any kind of international intervention,” Rasmussen said during a news conference with his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen in Helsinki, Finland's capital.

Greenland will hold a general election on March 11.

When asked about US President Donald Trump’s recent declarations that he would get Greenland “one way or another,” the foreign minister emphasized the concept of self-determination.

“I would like to draw attention to the fact that he (Trump) said, ‘We respect the Greenlandic right to self-determination.’ I think that was the most important part of that speech,” Rasmussen said, adding that he is “reluctant” to talk more about the issue until the poll.

He also expressed his “optimism” regarding Greenland’s decision.

“They want to loosen their ties to Denmark. We are working on that to have a more equal relationship, but I have no idea that they want to do that in order to become an integrated part of America,” Rasmussen said.

Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Recent polls by Verian suggest that a majority of Greenlanders would vote for independence, though 85% oppose joining the US.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen agreed that nobody could decide “other than Greenland and Denmark themselves.”

Finland, Denmark reiterate support for Ukraine

The two top diplomats also expressed their support for Ukraine while emphasizing the need to strengthen defense and cooperation.

“Russia will continue to pose a long-term threat to Europe,” Valtonen said.

“More countries around Europe must dig deeper into their pockets in order to help Ukraine achieve peace through strength,” Rasmussen said. “Therefore, we are also ready to soften the European fiscal policy because that is, I think, unfortunately, you could argue, a precondition for allowing more European countries to do more and do it faster.”

Both foreign ministers agreed that Russia’s war should not be rewarded.

“The reality is that if Russia stopped fighting, then the war could end. If Ukraine stops fighting, then there will be no Ukraine,” Rasmussen said.

When asked about Trump's plans for peace talks in Ukraine, Finnish top diplomat Elina Valtonen, for her part, "applauded" his "strong dedication" to bringing about peace.

“Surely, peace isn't the same as capitulation or surrender,” she added, emphasizing the need to focus on the UN Charter and the fundamental rights of “sovereign countries.”

“The American perspective is that he's ready to negotiate. I don't think we have exactly the same impression. We have to test that,” Rasmussen said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We want peace, but not just in the meaning of absence of fighting for a short while, which will enable Putin to remilitarize Russia and attack again,” he added.