A photograph of a supper hosted by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at her home for her Nordic counterparts from Finland, Norway and Sweden went “viral” over social media and news media a day later on Monday, epitomizing what Reddit users, among others, hailed as a typical “Scandinavian image” of modernity, casualness and simplicity.
According to Danish diplomatic missions, the dinner was also the occasion for “engaging with Nordic counterparts on regional security matters, maritime security in the Baltic Sea, and support for Ukraine.”
Frederiksen’s dinner guests were the president of Finland Alexander Stubb, Hjalmar Kristersson, the prime minister of Sweden and Jonas Gahr Støre, the prime minister of Norway.
At the same time, the image of the four – and only – Scandinavian nations’ leaders seen uneventfully eating around the residence’s modest dinner table came as US President Donald Trump appeared as unwavering in his quest to acquire the massive arctic landmass that is Greenland, which is an autonomously governed Danish territory.
However, the issue of strategically controlling Greenland, a mostly frozen territory three times the size of Texas but with a small permanent population of roughly 63,000, is not something new or groundbreaking as far as defense- and geopolitically-minded Washington policy-makers are concerned. On the back of unconditional WWII victory in Europe and the Pacific, Harry S. Truman offered to buy the world’s largest island from a previously German-occupied Denmark in 1946 for a reputed 100 million USD in gold.
The world largest island also encompasses the shortest route from North America to Europe, meaning Greenland is vital to North Atlantic and Arctic security, hosts a very important US military installation for space communication and early warning systems, and quite possibly is an enormous “treasure trove” of subterranean minerals and metals.
Two weeks ago, Denmark’s foreign minister said his country wanted to work with Greenland to “continue talks” with Trump “to ensure legitimate American interests” in the Arctic.
On his part, the recently elected 47th president of the United States said he believes Greenlanders want to become US citizens.
Taking to Facebook, the Danish prime minister posted the photograph, and without referencing US interest in Greenland, wrote beneath:
“Dear all. A brief status from here. This evening I’m hosting my Nordic colleagues from Finland, Norway and Sweden for dinner at my home after a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier.
“We have always stood together in the Nordic countries. And with the new and more unpredictable reality we are facing, good and close alliances and friendships have become even more important.
At our meeting today, we have discussed our regional defense and security cooperation. We share the gravity of the situation. And I have no doubt that defense and security will and must remain a high priority in Denmark, the Nordic region and the rest of Europe.
“I hear from many people – including many of you who write to me – that the situation in the world can make you feel insecure. I understand that. We must remember that Denmark is not alone. We have several close allies with whom we share values. And we belong to a continent that we are well on our way to making even stronger. This is an important task for the government and for me as Prime Minister. This applies militarily. But also economically and technologically.
Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to Poland, where I will participate in the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.”