ISTANBUL

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede encouraged the island's independence from Denmark on Friday, framing it as a step toward breaking free from "the shackles of the colonial era,” according to media reports.

His New Year’s address emphasized Greenland's right to self-determination amid renewed global attention sparked by US President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed interest in purchasing the territory, Politico reported.

Egede highlighted lingering inequalities in Greenland’s relationship with Denmark, which governed the island as a colony until 1979 and continues to provide an annual subsidy of €500 million ($514,5 million).

"History and current conditions have shown that our cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark has not succeeded in creating full equality," said Egede, underscoring the need for Greenland to chart its own path.

Greenland, which achieved self-rule in 1979 and gained the right to declare independence via a referendum in 2009, has been central to strategic and economic interests due to its vast reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals. The island, home to 57,000 people, also hosts a crucial US Air Force base.

Egede’s comments came weeks after Trump restated his controversial proposal to buy Greenland, a move he first floated in 2019. The Greenlandic leader swiftly dismissed the notion, stating that the territory "is not for sale and will never be for sale."

Denmark, which has faced criticism for historical injustices in Greenland, including forced contraception campaigns in the mid-20th century, recently announced plans to increase defense spending on the island by €1.3 billion.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen attributed the timing of the investment to coincidence, but the announcement followed Trump's renewed interest in the region.

Egede suggested that a referendum on independence could align with Greenland's parliamentary elections in April, signaling the start of a critical phase for the territory's future.

"Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state," he said, urging citizens to rally behind the vision during the upcoming election.

Greenland maintains its own parliament and administration while electing two members to Denmark’s Folketing, or parliament.