Trump calls Denmark ‘nasty’over cancelled visit and Greenland controversy
US President Donald Trump has called the Danish Prime Minister “nasty” after she rebuffed his idea of buying Greenland.
Trump made the comments after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was “sorry” that Mr Trump had abruptly called off a state visit to her country.
He continued to make digs at Denmark in tweets.
Earlier, she had dismissed the suggestion of the United States buying Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory, as “absurd” after it emerged that Trump was serious on buying the island.
Queen Margrethe II invited Mr Trump to visit Denmark on 2 September, and the manner of his cancellation has stunned the Scandinavian nation.
Trump has reportedly taken an interest in Greenland, in part, because of its resources, such as coal, zinc, copper and iron ore.
But while Greenland may be rich in minerals, it relies on Denmark for two-thirds of its budget revenue.
For the record, Denmark is only at 1.35% of GDP for NATO spending. They are a wealthy country and should be at 2%. We protect Europe and yet, only 8 of the 28 NATO countries are at the 2% mark. The United States is at a much, much higher level than that….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
The US has long seen the island, which sits along a direct route from Europe to North America, as being strategically important. It established the Thule air force and radar base there at the start of the Cold War, which now covers space surveillance and forms the northernmost part of the US ballistic missile early warning system.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Wednesday afternoon, Trump said: “I thought that the prime minister’s statement that it was absurd, that it was an absurd idea was nasty,” he said.
“I thought it was an inappropriate statement. All she had to do is say no, we wouldn’t be interested.”
After Trump’s remarks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Denmark in a phone call with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. Pompeo “expressed appreciation for Denmark’s co-operation” as a US ally with Kofod saying he welcomed the “frank, friendly and constructive talk”.
