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The people of Greenland are hoping Canada will have their back as they face threats of invasion from the United States, Governor General Mary Simon said.
Simon, a former ambassador to Denmark and Canada’s first ambassador for circumpolar affairs, said she has spoken to Greenlanders who feel “difficult” about US President Donald Trump’s desire to annex their territory.
“They feel they need a lot of support from Canada in terms of making sure that they don’t end their relationship with Denmark in any way,” Simon told CBC News.
“They also worry about what they hear in the media because sometimes it changes from day to day. People say they are trying to live normally like in other countries, but they still think too much.”
Greenland is a semi-autonomous state of Denmark that manages most of its domestic affairs, while Copenhagen oversees its foreign policy and defense.
It has a population of about 56,000, 90 percent of whom are Inuit or of mixed Inuit and Danish descent.
Strengthening relations with Mexico
Inuk and Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General Simon spoke with CBC News on Tuesday at the end of a two-day visit to Mexico City.
She met with several indigenous representatives on Monday and with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday.
“I’m very happy to meet the President of Mexico. I think she’s a wonderful person and she’s given priority to indigenous issues,” he said.
Simon’s visit aims to strengthen ties between Canada and Mexico and build on the foundation laid by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who met with Sheinbaum in Mexico last September.
The Carney administration has made deepening ties with Mexico a priority. Canada-US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc is leading a major trade mission to Mexico next month.
Canada and Mexico are also part of a continental trade agreement with the United States known as the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
“There are many areas where we can continue to work together – especially in light of the upcoming CUSMA talks. It is very important to maintain our bilateral relationship with Mexico on a very strong front,” Simon said.
I think it’s very important for me to help advance our continued work… It’s been a very productive trip and I hope I’ve been involved enough to help advance our shared priorities between Canada and Mexico.
‘Hope for the Future’
Her meeting with Sheinbaum came hours after Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He provided a clear statement The world order is now dominated by the interests of the major powers.
Middle powers such as Canada and Mexico – Carney said – were faced with a choice to “friend each other or create a third way”.
Carney also said Canada “will stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark.”
Simon believes Canadians should read Carney’s Davos speech in its entirety.
“I encourage Canadians to read the speech and understand the position Canada is taking in the difficult world we live in today,” said Simon.
Simon will travel to Nuuk, Greenland next month to open the Canadian consulate with Foreign Minister Anita Anand.
During the same trip, she is scheduled to give a speech at a conference held in Norway.