NUUK, Greeland (AP) 鈥� said Monday that he had a respectful and positive meeting with 鈥檚 special envoy to the Arctic territory, but that he made it clear that the Greenlandic people continue to insist on self-determination.
Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and Trump in the past has frequently insisted that the for security reasons, which has raised sovereignty concerns and pushback from Greenlandic and Danish leaders.
鈥淭he Greenlandic people are not for sale. is not something that can be negotiated,鈥� Nielsen was quoted by Danish TV 2 as saying after meeting on the island with the envoy, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
Nielsen also reiterated that the Greenlandic people 鈥渟eek good cooperation鈥� with the U.S., and said his 鈥渃ourtesy meeting鈥� with Landry took place with 鈥渕utual respect and in a positive atmosphere.”
Landry reportedly said upon his arrival in on Sunday that Trump had told him to 鈥済o over there and make as many friends as we can get,鈥� public Danish broadcaster DR reported.
Greenland鈥檚 Foreign Minister M煤te B. Egede told reporters Monday that a working group involving the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark continues to try to find a solution to the for control over Greenland. Trump has suggested that Russia or China may be on the verge of seizing Greenland, a notion that regional experts have dismissed.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been the ones creating obstacles to cooperation between the United States and Greenland,鈥� said the Greenlandic foreign minister, who also participated in the meeting with Landry and his delegation in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk.
鈥淪o if we are to continue down this positive and constructive path, we must await the working group鈥檚 report,鈥� he said, according to TV 2, adding that the work in the group appears 鈥渕ore promising鈥� than before.
U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Ken Howery, who is also part of the American delegation in Greenland, is expected to inaugurate the U.S. Consulate鈥檚 new offices in Nuuk, and both he and Landry are to attend a business fair on Tuesday and Wednesday, local media reported.
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