Trump cancels Danish state visit over Greenland sale controversy
US President Donald Trump has cancelled a state visit to Denmark after the nation’s prime minister said Greenland was not for sale to the US.
The president was scheduled to visit on 2 September, at the invitation of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II.
Then last week Trump suggested the US was interested in buying Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory and though at first laughed off by some as a joke by Trump, he then confirmed reports that he was interested in buying Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the suggestion as “absurd” and said she hoped Mr Trump was not being serious.
Announcing the cancellation of his visit, Mr Trump tweeted amongst things that based on Prime Minister Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, he will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time.
Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
Greenland is the largest island in the world, after Australia, which is defined as a continent in its own right. It is an autonomous Danish territory, located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
