Politics
Greenland leaders say they WILL enter negotiations with Trump
Greenland’s leader, Múte Egede, has expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations with President-elect Trump – although it won’t be over American potentially gaining control of the country.
Instead, the discussions would focus on the future of the mineral-rich Arctic territory, with a clear emphasis that Greenland’s people have no interest in becoming Americans.
Speaking at a press conference in Denmark on Friday, which holds nominal sovereignty over Greenland, Egede acknowledged the strategic importance of Greenland to the U.S. and said he was open to discussing areas of mutual interest.
While he has not yet spoken with Trump, Egede stated, ‘We are ready to talk. Cooperation is built on dialogue and finding solutions together.’
Egede was joined by Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, at the press conference.
The event comes amid an Axios report that Denmark officials have also communicated privately with Trump’s team ahead of his inauguration.
The secret communiques reportedly indicate the country’s willingness to explore how U.S. security interests could be addressed without transferring formal sovereignty over Greenland.
Greenland, a former colony of Denmark since the 18th century, became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953.
Greenland’s leader, Múte Egede, expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations with President-elect Trump
In August 2019, reports of Trump considering purchasing Greenland sparked swift rejections from political leaders in Greenland and Denmark, some labeling the idea ‘completely ridiculous’ or a ‘joke’
Egede acknowledged Greenland’s strategic importance to the U.S. and expressed a willingness to explore areas of mutual interest
The island gained the right to declare independence through a public vote in 2009 — a move Egede strongly supports.
‘We have a desire for independence, a desire to be the master of our own house … This is something everyone should respect,’ he said. ‘Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.’
Greenland’s importance has increased in recent years as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping routes, sparking competition among global powers for influence in the strategically located region between the U.S. and Russia. The territory and its surrounding waters are also abundant in valuable natural resources.
Currently, Denmark retains responsibility for Greenland’s defense.
The president-elect originally floated the idea of acquiring Greenland in his first term in office when discussing the prospect with his senior advisers back in 2019. But he left office without making any movement toward acquiring the territory.
Now, with less than two weeks before he begins a second term, Trump is revisiting the idea – and his son Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday with other ‘representatives’ of the incoming U.S. president.
At the time, former President Trump shared on Truth Social: ‘Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!’
During the visit, Don Jr. stopped at a local eatery in Nuuk, Greenland, meeting with community members and putting his father on speakerphone to address the residents directly.
At 836,000 square miles, Greenland is a scarcly populated, arctic autonomous territory of Denmark. When comparing it to the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1967, it can be estimated that Greenland’s total price would come out to approximately $230.25 million – though it’s not likely the same metrics would be use to determine worth
Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland on Tuesday with three close Trump allies for what was initially being sold as a ‘personal’ trip. It soon became clear that his intentions are to further his father’s intention to buy the arctic territory
On the call, Trump remarked, ‘I just want to say, it’s a very special place. It needs security for itself, but also needs security, very much, for the world,’ Trump said through the phone.
Multiple politicians, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, sent a clear message to Trump: ‘Greenland is not for sale.’
Her remarks prompted Trump to cancel a planned state visit to Denmark on August 20, 2019.
But if it were, how much would it cost the U.S.?
Some have said the best comparison is looking at the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.
Both Alaska and Greenland have cold, arctic climates, similarly scarce population density, strategic geographic placement and a richness of oil reserves.
The U.S. purchased Alaska, which is 586,412 square miles, for $7.2 million. In today’s dollars, that equates to around $153.5 million.
Greenland is about 150 percent the size of Alaska at 836,000 square miles. So by boosting that price by 50 percent, the total would come to approximately $230.25 million.
In examining past considerations for purchasing Greenland, history offers some intriguing comparisons. In 1946, the U.S. proposed buying the Arctic island for $100 million in gold, a sum that would equate to over $1.6 billion today.
Despite this valuation, both figures fall short of Greenland’s gross domestic product, which stood at $3.24 billion USD in 2021.
For further context, the U.S. bought the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in gold, equivalent to approximately $616.2 million today.
The Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803 cost $15 million, roughly $418.8 million in today’s terms. These historical transactions highlight the uncertainty around how much a Greenland purchase might cost, should such a deal ever be pursued.
The logistics of such a transaction remain complex. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress must approve any allocation of funds for land acquisition.
Even with a supportive Congress, whether they would back such a proposal is unclear.
When reports surfaced in August 2019 of then-President Trump considering the purchase of Greenland, political leaders in both Greenland and Denmark swiftly rejected the notion. Some dismissed it as ‘completely ridiculous’ or a ‘joke.’
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and later as a two-term civilian president from 1999 to 2007, recounted his experiences in a heartfelt tribute titled “Jimmy Carter: The Departure of a Titan”.
Fmr President Obasanjo and Late Fmr President Jimmy Carter
Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian President, has praised the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter as a “humanist par excellence” and the only non-African leader to personally visit General Sani Abacha to advocate for his release from prison.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and later as a two-term civilian president from 1999 to 2007, recounted his experiences in a heartfelt tribute titled “Jimmy Carter: The Departure of a Titan”.
The tribute was read during a memorial service at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on Sunday.
Obasanjo revealed that his imprisonment by Abacha’s military regime in 1995 stemmed from his vocal opposition to the dictatorship’s excesses.
Reflecting on Carter’s pivotal role, he stated, “President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison. On President Carter’s visit to Nigeria, he got Abacha to agree to take me from detention to house arrest on my farm.
“But that did not last for too long. Many other friends and leaders intervened, but President Carter was the only non-African leader, according to my information, that paid a visit to Abacha solely to plead for my release.”
Obasanjo shared a personal connection with Carter, drawing parallels between their humble beginnings and the values instilled by their parents.
“He was born into a farming family in Plains, Georgia, and I was born into a farming family in the rural village of Ibogun-Olaogun in Ogun State.
“He grew up under a father and mother who were disciplinarians, who instilled in him discipline, morality, hard work, integrity, kindness, and humility. My parents inculcated similar attributes in me,” he continued.
The former president humorously noted one distinction.
“He beat me though in one respect—there was a road to his settlement. There was no road to my village. We walked to every place or, at best, were carried on bicycles.”
Their shared military backgrounds further solidified their bond, as they first met when Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s military Head of State.
Obasanjo praised Carter for championing African causes, particularly in Southern Africa, where he played a key role in dismantling apartheid and colonial rule.
He contrasted Carter’s commitment to the continent with the unsympathetic stance of his predecessor, President Gerald Ford.
“President Carter’s visit to Nigeria in March 1978 marked the first state visit by a sitting American President, underscoring his dedication to African progress,” Obasanjo stated.
He also recounted how media mogul Ted Turner enlisted Carter’s assistance in advocating for his release. Turner offered to support Obasanjo’s family anywhere in the world during his ordeal.
“In the U.S., I called on President Carter, who told me all the efforts he made with other leaders and Abacha remaining unyielding for my release. But the most surprising thing Carter said to me was, ‘Please see Ted Turner and thank him for his generosity. He came to me and asked me to get his friend, Obasanjo, released from prison. I will take care of him and his family here or wherever he chooses to live.’ I was touched and moved to tears.”
Reflecting on Carter’s life and leadership, Obasanjo commended his humility, selflessness, and dedication to humanity.
“One great lesson I learned from President Carter was that in his leadership, he carried along an army of co-workers that shared the ideals and the burden of the work with him. He led by example and in humility, and that made success attend his way,” he added.
As he bid farewell to his friend, Obasanjo expressed gratitude for Carter’s life and the enduring legacy of his service to humanity.
“For me, I would miss a great and true friend, but I know we shall meet again in Paradise. May his soul rest in peace.”
Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia.
Politics
Shekarau Leads Northern Elite To Woo Obasanjo, Gowon, Others For New Coalition To Unseat Tinubu In 2027
A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, is spearheading efforts to forge an alliance between northern elites and southern political heavyweights ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources who spoke with Punch revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State Yakubu Gowon are among those backing the initiative.
Shekarau, a key figure in the League of Northern Democrats (LND), has reportedly been engaging political leaders from the South-West, South-East, and South-South regions in discussions about creating a broad-based coalition. …CONTINUE READING
Yakubu Gowon
The LND’s convener, Umar Ardo, recently announced the group’s intention to evolve into a national political platform.
Olusegun Obasanjo
During a press briefing on January 5, Ardo declared the group’s readiness to transform into the League of National Democrats, signalling a shift towards inclusivity.
“This new political platform seeks to provide a credible alternative by institutionalising meritocracy, promoting accountability, and ensuring the emergence of leaders with proven competence and integrity,” Ardo stated.
Insiders disclosed that Obasanjo and Gowon had advised the LND leadership to make the platform truly national by incorporating southern politicians and ensuring inclusiveness.
Naija News learnt that during a meeting in October 2024, Obasanjo hosted a 20-member delegation of the LND, led by Shekarau, at his penthouse within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
He suggested renaming the group to the National League of Democrats to reflect its broader vision.
“It is high time we began working for the national interest. Yes, you have identified your group as the League of Northern Democrats, but how I wish you call your group National League of Democrats, because where you come from should not be a problem,” he stated.
A former spokesperson for ex-Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, a pioneer member of the LND, told Punch that both Obasanjo and Gowon were among the group’s backers.
Sani confirmed that Shekarau was leading discussions with prominent southern politicians.
He said, “We’re talking with some southern politicians, but I don’t know who they are. Shekarau and others are making the moves and doing the talking.
“But when we met Baba Obasanjo, he said the initiative should be made national. General Gowon also said it should be national, and other influential Nigerians gave similar advice.
“When we engaged politicians in the South-East, South-South, and South-West, they began suggesting that this movement be turned into a political party. While we were briefed in meetings, the leaders didn’t disclose the names of the southern politicians they were speaking to.”
Sani clarified that the LND had not yet been registered as a political party, as consultations were still ongoing.
The group’s spokesperson, Ladan Salihu, said discussions were ongoing with southern leaders, including former governors, senators, and ministers.
According to him, even before they approached the politicians, the LND had already been contacted by key political clusters from the South-East.
“We’ve been contacted by notable politicians from the South, especially from the South-East, who indicated plans to form the League of Southern Democrats.
“Similarly, respected politicians from the South-West have shown interest in joining the LND if it becomes a national platform, or they may even form the League of Western Democrats.
“This is a political metamorphosis that will culminate in the creation of what will eventually become the League of Nigerian Democrats,” he stated.
While declining to name southern politicians the LND leader had been in contact with, Salihu confirmed that the group was in regular communication with “respected southern leaders”.
“We are in constant, almost daily contact with them because they share our vision of rescuing Nigeria. This is not just a rhetorical platform; it’s a serious movement based on real action,” he stated.
The LND’s move comes amid political manoeuvres by many leaders aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
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