Pompeo praises ‘US ally’ Denmark after Trump cancels visit

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has praised Denmark amid a public row over Greenland that saw President Donald Trump cancel a visit to the country.

In a phone call with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, Mr Pompeo “expressed appreciation for Denmark’s co-operation” as a US ally.

Mr Kofod welcomed the “frank, friendly and constructive talk”.

It came after Mr Trump said Denmark’s prime minister had been “nasty” when rebuffing his idea of buying Greenland.

Mette Frederiksen had called his ambitions of buying the autonomous Danish territory “absurd”. She said she was “disappointed and surprised” that he had cancelled his visit.

The trip was scheduled to take place on 2 September, at the invitation of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II.

The US State Department said Mr Pompeo and Mr Kofod had a friendly phone call on Wednesday about the “postponement” of the president’s trip.

“The secretary expressed appreciation for Denmark’s co-operation as one of the United States’ allies and Denmark’s contributions to address shared global security priorities,” spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. “The secretary and Foreign Minister Kofod also discussed strengthening co-operation with the Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – in the Arctic.”

Mr Kofod said the talks had affirmed a strong bond between the two countries.

(Agencies)