Greenland foreign minister says trust with US must be rebuilt

COPENHAGEN, October 12 — Greenland's foreign minister has asserted that the United States' claims to the territory have shattered "trust" between the two nations, a sentiment that will require considerable effort to restore. Foreign Minister Mute Egede acknowledged that rebuilding that confidence would be a "difficult exercise", speaking as Greenland's parliament prepared to discuss a security agreement struck with the United States.

The agreement grants Washington the authority to construct two new military bases in Greenland. Egede noted, "Something has broken", referring to the months of tension that ensued after US President Donald Trump suggested the US needed control over Greenland and would not dismiss the possibility of using force to acquire it. "There has been a serious breach of trust.

When a friend acts this way — with a lack of respect — trust has to be rebuilt," Egede emphasized. He recognized that many Greenlanders may have lost faith in their ally. Egede explained that restoring trust would be a tough "undertaking". The US, Denmark, and Greenland signed the accord last month at the United Nations General Assembly, a move Trump touted as ending the dispute.

He declared the US would erect two "major" bases on the autonomous Arctic territory of 57,000 residents. Egede attributed the agreement's achievement to a period of "mutual respect" following the summer break. The Greenlandic parliament was set to begin its debate on the accord on Monday, though the Danish parliament has yet to schedule it on their agenda.