DONALD Trump is set for a meeting with Greenland’s prime minister over buying the country despite being abruptly told by the Danish to “f*** off”.
The determined Republican may have to echo his inner Don Corleone in The Godfather and make Greenland an offer they simply can’t refuse.
Trump has been putting pressure on Greenland’s PM Mute B Egede since discussing the buy-out of the Danish territory before his re-election to the White House.
The new president has vowed to take control of Greenland in a peaceful transfer of power as it is an “absolute necessity” to protect global national security and freedom.
Debate has raged on for weeks over his threats with Denmark standing firm in the face of the new president.
One Dane has been particularly vocal of his disdain for Trump’s dream take over.
Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, bluntly told the Republican to “f*** off” in response to his recent remarks.
During a session at parliament he said: “Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years.
“It’s an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale.
“Let me put it in words you might understand. Mr Trump F*** off.”
The issue of Greenland’s ownership has raged on for weeks now with it being a major talking point at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Charles Gasparino from the New York Post said the general feeling at the event was that it would be a very hard move to pull off – but not impossible by any means.
A number of Wall Street investment bankers argued that money can solve most issues with America being wealthy enough to just make an offer Greenland can’t refuse – much like the iconic scene in The Godfather.
Greenland’s PM Egede has already said he is willing to speak with Trump and announced this week his government is working to arrange a meeting soon.
It comes amid fears that Trump may simply resort to storming onto the island and taking it through force if he doesn’t get what he wants.
The PM said at a press conference in Nuuk on Tuesday: “It is very understandable that people are worried. But the most important thing now is that people remain calm.
“We must be able to meet and talk about this calmly.
“If they want to talk about Greenland, they have to talk to Greenland.”
It is still unclear how soon a meeting could be arranged but Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt didn’t rule out a chat within a few days.
Talks of a meeting between a persuasive Trump and Greenland’s top officials is set to worry Denmark who have been adamant the territory is not up for sale.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen has also insisted: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Frederiksen said: “There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.”
As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland has its own ruling body – but people from the island have Danish citizenship.
But Denmark is responsible for Greenland’s protection and their army would be the army to mobilise against the Americans.
Its defence budget is around £6billion – 100 times smaller than the eye-watering £750billion America splashes on defence.
Despite the two nations continuing to squabble over ownership of Greenland, PM Egede has made it clear that Greenland wants to be completely independent – both of Denmark and a lurking America.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
Greenland is far from being just a useless block of ice as it is a vital strategic asset bursting with natural resources.
It also sits bang in the middle of the main Arctic trade routes – an area which is increasingly the object of a struggle between international superpowers.
Russia and China have both ramped up efforts to take control of the region, and there are concerns that America has been caught off-guard.
Russia, which owns 40 per cent of the Arctic coastline, has been particularly proactive in cranking up military activity.
It is currently building the world’s largest fleet of nuclear icebreakers that will dominate the Arctic waters and open up new routes shipping in the winter.
China’s plan to take control of the Arctic is dubbed the “Polar Silk Road”, and was formally announced in 2018.
During his first term in 2019, Trump suggested that the US should buy Greenland – the largest island in the world that is not a continent – given its strategic importance.
He even appointed a team to prepare options, including a long-term lease deal.
But the idea was roundly rejected by Denmark as well as by the island’s own authorities.
ISLE TAKE THAT!
EXCLUSIVE by Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter
Trump could storm Greenland and claim it within 24 hours in the “world’s shortest war”, analysts have revealed.
If Trump did invade, America’s military might would end the war in a day, politics professor Anthony Glees told The Sun.
Speaking to The Sun, Glees said Trump will be surrounded by “people who think he is great” – and it means he will be able to go ahead with any wild ideas he has.
Glees said: “In other words, we have to take him seriously.
“And if Trump wanted to take Greenland by force, he could do it in 24 hours.”
Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told Politico that “there is no defensive capacity in Greenland”.
And it means it would be “the shortest war in the world”.
The conflict would present an “unchartered” situation after the US entered a pact with Denmark in 1951 to defend Greenland against any attack.
The US has a nuclear base on the island that is constantly manned by troops.
Kristian Søby Kristensen, a military researcher at the University of Copenhagen, said: “Who would the Americans be fighting? Their own military?”
Glees said it was likely that, in the event of a US invasion, “there would be no military response to it because it is unthinkable that any Nato member would attack the US”.
