Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Danish PM Regrets Trump's Canceled Visit After She Rejected Greenland Sale

VOA News

   Updated Aug. 20, 2019, 12:10p.m.

   Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday she regretted
   and was surprised that U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly canceled
   his scheduled visit to Denmark when she rebuffed his overture to buy
   Greenland, the Arctic country that is part of the Danish kingdom.

   "I had been looking forward to the visit, our preparations were well
   underway," she told reporters in Copenhagen. "It was an opportunity, I
   think, to celebrate Denmark's close relationship to the U.S., and who
   remains one of Denmark's closest allies. I was looking forward to
   having a dialogue on the many shared interests Denmark has with the
   U.S."

   But Trump called off the September 2-3 visit late Tuesday, while saying
   that, "Denmark is a very special country with incredible people." But
   he said that with Frederiksen declaring that "she would have no
   interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing
   our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time."

     Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based
     on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's comments, that she would have
     no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be
     postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time....
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]August 20, 2019

   He also thanked Frederiksen for saving "a great deal of expense and
   effort for both the United States and Denmark" by publicly stating
   ahead of time her views opposing any possible Greenland sale.

     ....The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and
     effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I
     thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the
     future!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [2]August 20, 2019

   Frederiksen said rebuffing Trump on Greenland "does not change the
   character of our good relations, and we will of course, from Denmark,
   continue our ongoing dialogue with the U.S. on how we can develop our
   cooperation and deal with the many common challenges we are facing."

   She said U.S.-Danish discussions on security and resource development
   in the Arctic are at the forefront.

   "The Arctic area is more important than ever," she said. "And of
   course, this is mainly a question about security. And when you look at
   the Danish-U.S. history, the question about our common security is on
   the top of the agenda."

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1163961882945970176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1163961884225277954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

.