Greenlandic politician who fought for his individuals's autonomy needs U.S. to again off

[ad_1] LISTEN | Full interview with Greenlander Aqqaluk Lynge: As It Occurs 6:00 Greenlandic politician who fought for his individuals’s autonomy needs U.S. to again off

The individuals of Greenland are on edge, says Aqqaluk Lynge.

Lynge, a former member of Greenland's parliament, is likely one of the founders of the pro-Greenlandic independence social gathering Inuit Ataqatigiit. However as of late, because the U.S. as soon as once more threatens to annex Greenland, Lynge is loudly reminding the world that his homeland is a free and self-governing territory of the Danish commonwealth.

That could be information, he says, to White Home homeland safety advisor Stephen Miller, who informed CNN on Monday that “Greenland must be a part of the USA” and refused to rule out seizing it by drive.

Days earlier, Miller's spouse, political adviser Katie Miller, posted a map of Greenland on X colored in with the American flag, alongside the caption: "SOON."

These renewed threats come after the U.S. raided Venezuela on the weekend, captured its president and his spouse, and declared it might run the nation and its oil trade. Quickly after, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to do the identical to Colombia.

Trump additionally steadily touts the concept of constructing Canada the 51st state.

“Possibly Canada is the following, after which Greenland,” Lynge mentioned throughout an interview with As It Occurs host Nil Köksal. Right here is a part of that dialog.

You've got been right here earlier than. The U.S. president has threatened Greenland sovereignty earlier than. However while you first heard these phrases from Stephen Miller, how did you react in that second?

We're, initially, an integral a part of the Danish structure, and we're a proud member of the Danish commonwealth of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. In order that's our actuality.

Maybe it was presupposed to evoke a response, these feedback. However for you personally, what did it really feel like to listen to that?

It is form of a disservice, you recognize. As a result of it is one 12 months in the past tomorrow that Trump's son landed in Greenland and created this example.

Greenland is a part of Europe. Greenland is a part of Denmark. Greenland is a part of the Nordic international locations. We're a part of the Western world, members of NATO. So why ought to [the] U.S. do that to us?

It is ridiculous for us, from right here, to see what is going on on. We're not an enemy. We've got been mates with the USA for 80 years, at the very least. What is going on on right here? If they need something with Greenland, why do not they speak to the Danish and Greenlandic governments, as an alternative of utilizing their social media to do every little thing?

I feel we've a really major problem, and we want Canada's assist.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A man in a sealskin vest" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/0b73bbde-2aa2-4eb8-b0f1-8313ac75f61a,1767738685222/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%28262%2C629%2C1808%2C1209%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/0b73bbde-2aa2-4eb8-b0f1-8313ac75f61a,1767738685222/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%28262%2C629%2C1808%2C1209%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/0b73bbde-2aa2-4eb8-b0f1-8313ac75f61a,1767738685222/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%28262%2C629%2C1808%2C1209%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/0b73bbde-2aa2-4eb8-b0f1-8313ac75f61a,1767738685222/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%28262%2C629%2C1808%2C1209%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.4954507857733663" data-cy="image-img"/> Aqqaluk Lynge, pictured right here in 2009, is a former member of Greenland's parliament and one of many founders of the pro-Greenlandic independence social gathering Inuit Ataqatigiit (Scanpix Denmark/AFP/Getty Photographs) When it comes to the U.S. administration, they're suggesting that that is about safety in a roundabout way. What do you assume is the motivation for this speak? Why do you assume they're bringing this up once more proper now on this method?

Because the Nineteen Nineties, the U.S. has shut down its personal bases in Greenland. It isn't us which have created the scenario the place their presence has been solely up within the Thule airbase. So the USA is solely accountable for this. We've not performed something towards them.

It’s actually irritating for us. What do you do with mates which can be now not mates? I do not know.

I feel that each one of us within the Arctic have to be prepared for something. And I am certain that Denmark and Canada are speaking to one another very carefully. We're in a harmful, very harmful, scenario proper now.

WATCH | Mark Carney meets Danish PM: Carney meets Danish PM, says Greenland’s future can be determined by individuals of Greenland and Denmark

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has been dealing with U.S. threats over Greenland, mentioned Tuesday after a gathering with Mark Carney that the Canadian prime minister has been ‘very clear’ on his respect for nationwide sovereignty and shared values. Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, as you recognize, spoke together with his Danish counterpart right this moment. He is spoken about assist for Denmark and for Greenland. And likewise we all know that in February, our Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and International Affairs Minister Anita Anand are going to be visiting. And she or he has confirmed that Canada can be opening a consulate in Nuuk. That go to, the feedback to this point, opening a consulate — how can that assist in face of what you are experiencing proper now? Can it?

With the altering world that we're seeing, we want mates in Greenland, so we're very a lot welcoming the brand new workplace right here. And it's important, additionally, that after Maduro, they're speaking about Colombia. Possibly Canada is the following, after which Greenland.

It is actually one thing that the Greenlanders are very nervous about. And I feel that the overwhelming majority of Greenlanders desire a regular connection to Denmark by the preparations that we've. That is the one freedom we've.

The world should perceive that Greenland isn't about to do something apart from negotiating with Denmark, our closest ally for 300 years, and there is nothing that we intend to separate from Denmark. That is not the case. We're not separatists.

You've got campaigned for independence for Greenland prior to now. Is this type of stress from the USA … altering how you're feeling about that motion?

The query of independence might be solved in some ways, and we've already performed that in Greenland in a way that [is] superb for us. Denmark and Greenland are working carefully collectively.

We had no issues till MAGA got here in. So what we want in Greenland is that we stick collectively.

We're not negotiating independence proper now. The world has modified a lot that it is not on the desk anymore. What's on the desk is that Denmark wants Greenland and we want Faroe Islands collectively within the Danish commonwealth. We want the assist from the surface world.

These which can be attempting to destroy the connection between Denmark and Greenland will fail, as a result of we're household. We've got been collectively for 300 years.

We're not about to separate from the world. It is the USA which can be separating from the Western world. And that is one thing that everybody ought to care about.

What are you listening to from your pals and kinfolk? , while you discuss what a harmful second we're in and you're in, what are individuals telling you, simply personally, about how they're feeling?

I feel that Greenlanders are largely nervous that something may occur. And that's how we have a look at the USA now. Common individuals, they do not belief the USA anymore.