Greenlandic leader criticizes Trump, seeks broader coalition govt

Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his lack of respect toward Greenlanders, describing him as "unpredictable" and expressing concern over the current state of global affairs, reported Xinhua.

Greenland, an autonomous territory in Denmark, is set to hold its parliamentary election on Tuesday. Egede called this a "fate-defining election" for the future of Greenland. If his party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), wins, he intends to form a broad coalition government involving multiple parties.

In an interview published on Monday with Danish broadcaster DR, Egede said that the world order is wavering and that Trump's actions have further deepened divisions between the United States and Europe.

"I believe we are facing a decisive election," Egede said. "What is happening in the world right now worries me significantly. The global order is unstable on many fronts, and perhaps we have a U.S. president who is highly unpredictable in a way that makes people feel uneasy."

His immediate priority following the election, should he remain in power, will be to reaffirm Greenland's sovereignty. "Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, no matter how many times the U.S. president claims he wants control over it," Egede asserted.

"We deserve to be treated with respect, and I don't think the U.S. president has done that lately since he took office," he said.

In light of recent events, Egede questioned Greenland's long-term relationship with the U.S. "The actions of the American president in recent times make it difficult (for us) to consider getting closer to the U.S. as we might have previously."

Greenland's growing tensions with the U.S. and broader geopolitical instability have influenced local political discourse on independence. While most parties support eventual independence, many are cautious about the timing, since the autonomous territory is still unable to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Egede has proposed a measured approach, emphasizing economic development in sectors such as tourism and mining to reduce Greenland's reliance on the fishing industry. He has not set a timeline for a potential independence referendum but insists that efforts must continue toward self-governance.

"I will not set a specific year for it, but in light of current events, all parties must come together and develop a solid plan for our shared vision of independence," said the prime minister.