Now the press conference about the meeting between Greenland, Denmark and the USA is underway.
Naalakkersuisoq's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt (S), and the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke (Moderates), talk about the meeting.
- The Kingdom of Denmark has already increased its own contribution. Ships, drones, fighter jets, etc. – we are clearly ready to do more, says Lars Løkke about the protection of the Arctic, which he says the meeting was about.
He says that the United States still wants to own Greenland.
- We therefore continue to have a fundamental disagreement, and we have agreed to disagree. But we have also agreed to continue the dialogue.
They agree to set up a so-called high-level group to try to clarify the problems. The group is to meet within a few weeks.
Will try to accommodate the president
Vivian Motzfeldt says that the meeting was based on mutual respect.
- Dear compatriots, I know that you are all with me, and although it has been an exciting day for all of us, I can say that the meeting was good. The discussions were based on mutual respect.
We agree that we must be forward-looking in our future activities, she says in Greenlandic.
They are trying to see if it is possible to meet the president's concerns while respecting the Kingdom's borders, says Lars Løkke.
He also says that it is definitely not necessary for the United States to own Greenland.
- I think it is important to say again how important it is to strengthen our cooperation with the United States, but that does not mean that we want to be owned by the United States, but as allies it is important to strengthen our alliances, says Vivian Motzfeldt.
Has challenged the American narrative
- We have had the opportunity to challenge narratives from the American president, says Lars Løkke, who says that they have informed the Americans that Greenland is not full of Russian and Chinese warships.
According to him, there have not been a Chinese warship in Greenland for more than a decade, citing Danish intelligence.
Couldn't change the American position
Lars Løkke says that it has not been possible to change the American position, but he did not expect that either.
- I'm not saying that everything is resolved. It's not. We didn't succeed in changing the American position. I didn't expect that either. It's clear that the president has a desire to conquer Greenland, he says, but emphasizes that it is neither the Danish nor the Greenlandic desire.
- The meeting has been respectful, and we have shown where our limits are, and from there I think it is important to look forward, says Vivian Motzfeldt. She will not go into further detail about what they discussed in a closed meeting room.
Denmark and Greenland are integrated and have been for centuries, says Lars Løkke.
The press conference is over.
