45 terrible minutes: "Went very badly"

 

Donald Trump
Trump and Fredriksen's 45 terrible minutes: "Cold shower"
 

Emil Forsberg

Published 23.13

Donald Trump and Mette Fredriksen spoke on the phone for 45 minutes.

According to five senior officials, it went "very badly".

- It was terrible, says a source according to the Fincancial Times.

 
        

         Can you buy Greenland?

The conversation about whether the US can buy Greenland took place last week.

Trump insisted that he was serious, but was again told that the island is not for sale.

Then Trump became aggressive and confronted the Danish prime minister, according to five European officials who the Financial Times spoke to.

- It was terrible, says a source.

"A cold shower"

- He was very firm. It was a cold shower. It used to be so hard to take it seriously, but I think it's serious and potentially very dangerous, says another.

           

         

          Donald Trump with his wife Melania.
          1 / 2Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

 

The conversation lasted 45 minutes and crushed hopes that the foreign policy crisis between the NATO allies was about to be resolved.

The European sources say they initially thought Trump's attempt to take control of Greenland was a negotiating ploy to gain more influence over NATO territory now that Russia and China are stepping up their presence in the Arctic.

"Has gone into crisis mode"

But now they have changed their minds.

- The intention was very clear. They want it. The Danes have gone into crisis mode, says one source.

- The Danes are completely horrified by this.

Trump reportedly had a “tough conversation” in which he threatened specific measures against Denmark, including targeted punitive tariffs.

Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland earlier this year. Photo: Emil Stach / AP

The Danish Foreign Ministry says they do not recognize themselves in the sources’ descriptions.

The White House is not hiding its interest in Greenland, which is home to 57,000 people, provides new shipping routes through the Arctic and has abundant, but difficult-to-access minerals.

“Is important to the United States”

“President Trump has been clear that the safety and security of Greenland is important to the United States as China and Russia make significant investments throughout the Arctic region,” a spokesperson said.

“The President is committed to not only protecting U.S. interests in the Arctic but also to working with Greenland to ensure mutual prosperity for both nations.”