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Howery emphasizes stronger ties with Greenland

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Greenland's Motzfeldt calls for open dialogue with US

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Greenland vital for US security, says Washington

COPENHAGEN, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The new U.S. ambassador to

Denmark pledged more support for Greenland on Monday ahead of

meetings on his first visit there, in the wake of President

Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the semi-autonomous

territory.

Relations between Denmark and its longtime ally, the United

State,s have been strained since Trump revived talk of wresting

control of Greenland away from Denmark.

"We have achieved a lot over the years, especially in the

last five years. We can do more. We want to support a strong,

secure, and prosperous future for the people who call the Arctic

their home," ambassador Kenneth Howery, who previously

co-founded PayPal ( PYPL ), told journalists in Nuuk alongside

Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, according to

local newspaper Sermitsiaq.

Motzfeldt said that U.S. comments about Greenland had

created uncertainty among locals, and she stressed the need to

speak openly with the United States.

"Our country and the United States have cooperated for 80

years based on common interests. There is a need to restore

trust so we can continue good cooperation," Motzfeldt said,

according to Sermitsiaq.

Howery is in Nuuk to attend meetings of the Joint Committee

and the Permanent Committee, which, according to Greenland's

government, alternate between the island and the U.S. and

provide a forum for civilian and military cooperation, including

the American military presence there.

Officials from both Greenland and Denmark attend the annual

committee meetings, which Motzfeldt said in a statement are

designed to promote direct dialogue and cooperation with the

United States on areas of both civilian and military importance.

Washington argues that Greenland, a Danish sovereign

territory, is vital for U.S. security and its ballistic missile

early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North

America runs via the island.

"Trust and respect are the foundation of any partnership,

and it is no secret that the past year has been challenging,"

Motzfeldt said in the statement.

Denmark's foreign ministry declined to comment on who from

Copenhagen would participate in the talks.

Both the Danish and Greenland governments have ruled out ceding

the resource-rich island to U.S. control, although Denmark has

acknowledged neglecting the territory's military capabilities.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen,

additional reporting by Soren Sirich Jeppesen, editing by Ros

Russell)