Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Saturday she believed US President Donald Trump still desires to own Greenland despite dialling back his recent threats to seize it by force. Asked at a security conference in Munich if Trump still wanted to own the Arctic island, Frederiksen said: “Unfortunately, I think the desire is the same.” Trump’s designs on Greenland have caused tension to soar between the United States and Europe.
Last month, he backed down from his threats to seize the island, an autonomous territory of ally Denmark, after striking what he called a “framework” deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. But relations have remained strained. “Everybody asks us, do we think it’s over? I mean, no, we don’t think it’s over,” Frederiksen said, participating in a panel discussion on Arctic security.