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Danish residents say President Trump’s newest push to regulate Greenland is altering their view on Denmark’s relationship with America.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
In one other risky week for transatlantic relations, President Trump continues to proclaim that Greenland shall be a part of america by hook or by crook, even if it is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Leaders in Denmark and Greenland say they wish to work with the U.S. however is not going to negotiate on sovereignty. Danish civilians say they’re feeling whiplash, as NPR’s Barbara Sprunt experiences.
BARBARA SPRUNT, BYLINE: On the College of Copenhagen, political science pupil Villads Welling tells me his research have gone from the theoretical to the eerily sensible as President Trump continues to push to amass Greenland. He remembers that Trump floated the thought throughout his first time period.
VILLADS WELLING: I believe most individuals in Denmark had been simply laughing, saying, oh, yeah. Properly, he isn’t going to. And he would not even know that you simply can not purchase one other nation. That is not the way it works.
SPRUNT: However Trump is doubling down, sustaining the U.S. wants Greenland for nationwide safety regardless of already having navy entry. This week, he vowed to impose tariffs on European allies till a deal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland was reached after which modified his thoughts.
WELLING: We have come to understand that he needs to purchase Greenland. However he’s additionally keen to threaten us, and he’s additionally keen to take motion.
SPRUNT: His buddy, legislation pupil William Bruss (ph), places Trump’s quest this fashion.
WILLIAM BRUSS: That offers some imperialistic flashbacks. In my head, a minimum of.
SPRUNT: He says he grew up studying in regards to the shut alliance between the U.S. and Denmark and now sees it turned the wrong way up.
BRUSS: It is our – in some methods, our large brother. It is a nation that we have all the time seemed as much as, felt that it was somebody we shared values with. So to see somebody communicate in a means the place it a minimum of seems like he is keen to throw away that cooperation – that’s surprising.
SPRUNT: Emma Firestone agrees.
EMMA FIRESTONE: There is a sense that we’re collectively residing by a tragedy.
SPRUNT: She’s initially from Boston and is elevating a household right here in Copenhagen along with her Danish husband. She mentioned regardless of the upheaval, Danes appear to attract a distinction between the U.S. authorities and Individuals overseas.
FIRESTONE: Everyone seems to be able to recognizing that, you realize, they don’t seem to be Donald Trump. They aren’t their administration, they usually do not signify them.
SPRUNT: Mads Simply-Olesen is a Dane who went to highschool in Iowa.
MADS JUST-OLESEN: I imply, in Denmark, we’re – everybody could be very well mannered and likes to observe the foundations and stand in line. And, you realize, the thought of worldwide legislation is one thing that individuals simply assume that will be revered, and it feels very far-fetched to even discuss pleasant nations having these sorts of discussions.
SPRUNT: He says Individuals ought to perceive that Danes have seen the U.S. as a robust ally, however that is shifting.
JUST-OLESEN: Now the dialog within the Danish media and within the office and once you speak to individuals could be very a lot about how, properly, it is time for Europe to face alone. And I believe most Danes are able to say, OK, we do not wish to must depend on the U.S. for something, actually, ‘trigger it is simply too unpredictable. And it is acquired nothing to do with individuals, acquired every little thing to do with politics.
SPRUNT: This week, European leaders themselves echoed the necessity to chart an unbiased course with much less reliance on america.
Barbara Sprunt, NPR Information, Copenhagen.
(SOUNDBITE OF SKULI SVERRISSON’S “SWEET EARTH (FEAT. BILL FRISELL)”)
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