When former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed renewed interest in acquiring the independent Arctic region,
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede responded sharply with three words: “Greenland is ours.” This was an unusual display of resistance.
The announcement was made as thousands of Greenlanders fiercely opposed Trump’s divisive claims of U.S. ownership in the biggest demonstrations the island has ever seen.
With banners that read “We’re not for sale” and “Yankee go home,” and screaming chants like “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” an estimated 3,000 protesters—nearly 5% of Greenland’s 57,000 residents—flooded the capital city of Nuuk over the weekend.
People from various political backgrounds denounced what many described as a disrespectful attack on their sovereignty, and the demonstrations, which also extended to Sisimiut, the second-largest city in Greenland, were a historic moment of national unity.
The turnout was astonished, according to organizers. The organizer of the Nuuk event, Orla Joelsen, told the local daily Sermitsiaq, “I’ve never seen so many people at a protest before.” “This concerns our right to self-determination, our identity, and our land.”
Prime Minister Egede underlined the importance of the public outcry while joining demonstrators in Nuuk. “Seeing so many people demonstrating unity gives us strength,” he said. “Any attempt by a foreign leader to exert pressure on our territory is totally unacceptable.
Our strength is in our unity. His criticism was in line with a joint statement earlier this week that Greenland’s political leaders signed, adamantly rejecting Trump’s advances: “Greenland is not for sale and will never be for sale.”
We must not give up on our protracted fight for liberty. The statement cited Denmark’s 2009 grant of self-rule to Greenland, which maintains authority over military and foreign policy but has consistently stated that it will not sell the region.
At the event, Egede was joined by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the liberal Demokraatit party, which just swept to power as Greenland’s biggest political force in legislative elections. Nielsen remarked, “We may hold a wide range of opinions, but we are united on this.”
Trump has been fascinated by Greenland during his time as president, when he allegedly suggested buying the island because of its advantageous location in the Arctic and undeveloped natural riches.
The idea, which Danish leaders at the time called “absurd,” has come up again in comments made by Trump supporters, such as his son Donald Trump Jr., who asserted that Greenlanders “love the U.S.” This description was rejected by protesters.
“Trump has not behaved well. One protester, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that he spreads false information through social medium. “We wish to demonstrate that we are not all Americans.”
Greenland’s complicated geopolitical status was highlighted by the protests. Despite the island’s heavy reliance on Danish subsidies and American infrastructure investment, its officials have made a greater effort to establish independence, especially as climate change creates new Arctic resource prospects and shipping routes.
Trump’s remarks, according to analysts, touched a nerve by bringing up colonial-era exploitation. Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz Larsen stated,
“This isn’t just about Trump—it’s about centuries of outside powers treating Greenland as a commodity.” “The people are making it very evident that they alone will determine their own destiny.”
The Biden administration has reiterated its support for Greenland’s self-governance while distancing itself from Trump’s statements.
Nonetheless, the episode has stoked discussions on American Arctic strategy and foreign policy. Greenlanders, meanwhile, have made it clear that they will not entertain the idea of annexation.
“Enough is enough!” cries lingered in the icy air of Nuuk as the protests came to an end, sending a clear message to Trump and the rest of the globe that Greenland will determine its own future.