Greenland should ‘take the lead’ in talks with US, foreign minister says

ISTANBUL

Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt on Friday said that they should "take the lead" in meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"When it comes to Greenland, it should be Greenland that takes the lead and speaks with the United States," Motzfeldt said, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

She reportedly said that the Greenlandic government should be able to engage in dialogue with other countries independently of Denmark.

"What would be wrong with us holding meetings with the United States on our own? I assume that we (Denmark and Greenland) share certain common values and policies that both countries stand by," Motzfeldt said.

When asked if she would prefer to hold the meeting without Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, she refused to comment and stressed that the talks will be held jointly.

"Greenland has been working toward statehood, which would require us to conduct our own foreign policy. But we are not there yet. Until then, we have certain laws and frameworks that we must follow," Motzfeldt explained.

The foreign minister further said that she has "good expectations" for the upcoming meeting, underlining that it is "too early to say how it will end."

"From our side, it is clear that Greenland needs the United States, and the United States needs Greenland. That responsibility must be taken seriously," she added, reiterating the need for a return to trust-based relationship with Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that he will have a meeting with Danish officials next week, after Denmark requested talks.

After a US military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump renewed his call Sunday for a takeover of Greenland for "national security" interests.