Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen will not attend the opening of a new United States consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, amid continuing tensions between Greenland and Washington.
Speaking to the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Thursday, Nielsen confirmed he had decided not to take part in the inauguration ceremony for the new consulate building.
“We have not made a principled decision, but I will not participate,” Nielsen said.
He added that he could not confirm whether other members of his government would attend the event.
The US consulate has invited officials and guests to a reception marking the opening of the new facility. However, Sermitsiaq reported that many invitees have declined due to the current political climate.
Relations between Greenland and the United States remain strained following repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump expressing interest in acquiring or gaining control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark with significant natural resources and strategic importance in the Arctic region.
On Monday, Greenland parliament member Naaja H. Nathanielsen also said she would not attend any events hosted by the US consulate.
“I have made it clear that the situation between our countries is currently difficult,” she wrote on Facebook.
