Icelandic music icon Björk has issued a powerful plea for Greenland to seek its independence from Denmark, as former US President Donald Trump renews threats to acquire the vast Arctic island.
An Impassioned Plea on Social Media
In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Monday, 5 January 2026, the 60-year-old artist urged the territory's residents to follow Iceland's example and break free from Danish rule. Her intervention comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following Trump's recent comments in The Atlantic magazine, where he stated, "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense."
Björk expressed profound sympathy for Greenlanders, writing: "Colonialism has repeatedly given me horror chills up my back, and the chance that my fellow Greenlanders might go from one cruel colonizer to another is too brutal to even imagine." She highlighted her own nation's relief at gaining sovereignty in 1944, which preserved the Icelandic language and identity.
A History of Colonial Control and Recent Controversies
Greenland, home to around 57,000 people, transitioned from a Danish colony to a self-governing territory in 1953. While it manages most domestic affairs, Denmark still controls its foreign policy and defense and provides roughly half of its public budget. The island retains the right to hold a referendum on full independence.
Björk's post condemned historical and recent Danish policies. She referenced the lawsuit by 143 Greenlandic women who accused the Danish government of forcibly fitting them with intrauterine devices (IUDs) without consent between the 1960s and 1990s to limit population growth. An official inquiry found approximately 4,500 Indigenous women were affected, leading to a Danish apology and a compensation fund.
She also criticised the now-banned parental competency tests, which for decades were accused of bias, leading to Inuit children being removed from their families and placed with Danish foster parents. "Till today the Danish are treating Greenlanders like they are second class humans," Björk concluded, signing off with: "Dear Greenlanders, declare independence !!!!"
Political Rejection and Strategic Stakes
The singer's advocacy is not new; she has a track titled "Declare Independence" dedicated to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Her latest call aligns with growing unease about Trump's ambitions, particularly after the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro demonstrated a willingness for assertive military action.
Both Danish and Greenlandic authorities have firmly rejected the idea of a US takeover. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on Monday, "I have made it very clear where the Kingdom of Denmark stands, and Greenland has repeatedly said that it does not want to be part of the United States." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
The situation underscores the ongoing tension between post-colonial sovereignty movements and the strategic interests of global powers in the resource-rich Arctic region.
