Political leaders in Greenland have delivered a firm and unified rebuke to former US President Donald Trump's renewed ambition to bring the vast Arctic island under American control.
A Unified Front Against Annexation
In a powerful joint declaration released on Friday night, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four other prominent party leaders left no room for ambiguity. "We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders," they stated, directly countering Trump's assertions. The leaders stressed that the future of their semi-autonomous nation, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, must be determined solely by its own people.
The statement was a direct response to comments made by Mr Trump earlier on Friday, in which he reiterated his desire to "make a deal" to acquire Greenland "the easy way." He argued that if the United States did not take control, then rivals Russia or China would seize it, creating an undesirable geopolitical neighbour for the US. Trump ominously added, "If we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way," though he provided no specifics. The White House later confirmed it was evaluating all options, including potential military action.
International Laws and NATO Warnings
The Greenlandic leaders emphasised that their path to full independence is being charted "in dialogue with the Greenlandic people and is prepared on the basis of international laws." They insisted that no external power has the right to interfere. "We must decide the future of our country ourselves, without pressure for quick decision, delay or interference from other countries," the statement read.
The escalating situation has triggered grave concerns in Copenhagen. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any forced American takeover of Greenland would effectively mean the end of the NATO alliance. This stark warning underscores the potential global security ramifications of the dispute.
Officials from Denmark, Greenland, and the United States held talks in Washington on Thursday and are scheduled to meet again next week to discuss the White House's renewed push for control. The statement from Greenland's leaders called for an end to the "United States' contempt for our country."
A Geopolitical Flashpoint in the Arctic
The controversy highlights Greenland's strategic significance. While it is the world's largest island, it has a tiny population of approximately 57,000 and no independent military, relying on Denmark for defence. Its location offers immense value for mineral resources and as a base for monitoring Arctic and North Atlantic security.
The joint statement was signed by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Pele Broberg, Mïte B. Egede, Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen, and former premier Aleqa Hammond. It remains unclear how other NATO members would respond if the US attempted to forcibly annex the territory, or whether they would honour their alliance commitments to defend Denmark.
