Greenland’s prime minister wants an independence vote in April (Image: Getty)
The leader of the world’s largest island has called for independence from its former colonial power.
became a self-governing territory in 1979 after being ruled by the from the early 18th century. It had been a Danish colony until 1953.
Its Prime Minister Múte Egede claimed in his New Year’s speech that the islands’ 57,000 inhabitants aren’t treated as equals by Denmark and the “shackles of colonialism” need to be removed.
He said: “The history and current conditions have shown our cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark has not succeeded in creating full equality.
“It is now time for our country to take the next step. Like other countries in the world, we must work to remove the obstacles to cooperation, which we can describe as the shackles of colonialism, and move forward.”
Múte Egede says full equality between Greenland and Denmark still doesn’t exist (Image: Getty)
Mr Egede, who is a member of Greenland’s Community of the People party, said a referendum on independence could be held on the same date in April as parliamentary elections.
He said work has begun on creating a framework for an independent Greenland, which would require “major steps”, adding: “The upcoming new election period must, together with the citizens, create these new steps.”
A series of revelations about misconduct on the part of Danish officials in the 20th century has helped Greenland’s independence movement gain momentum, according to Euronews.
This includes a scandal around involuntary birth control in the 1960s and 70s, which was was exposed in a podcast by the Danish broadcaster DR.
It cited Greenland government estimates that by the end of 1969 a total of 35% of women on the island who could have had children had been fitted with intrauterine devices.
In December, US president-elect renewed unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the US to .
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Greenland is rich in oil, natural gas and minerals (Image: Getty)
While naming his ambassador to , Mr Trump said: “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large US military base. It is also rich in oil, natural gas and mineral resources.
Mr Egede said in response to Mr Trump’s renewed call: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.”
The office of Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said it had no comment on Greenland except for it “not being for sale, but open for cooperation”.
After Mr Trump’s remarks about buying the island, Denmark said it would boost defence spending in Greenland by at least £1.07billion (€1.3bn).
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the timing of the announcement was an “irony of fate”, according to .