Thousands Protest In Greenland And Denmark Over Trump’s Greenland Takeover Plan
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Greenland and Denmark to oppose plans by United States President Donald Trump to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty.
Demonstrations were held on Saturday in several Danish cities, including the capital, Copenhagen, as well as in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, where crowds marched and gathered near the US consulate.
The protests coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a delegation from the US Congress. Speaking during the visit, the delegation’s leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, criticised President Trump’s comments on Greenland, describing his rhetoric as “not constructive.”
President Trump has repeatedly insisted that Greenland is critical to America’s national security and has not ruled out acquiring the territory by force. In a further escalation, he announced plans to impose trade tariffs on European countries opposed to his proposal.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would be subject to a 10 per cent US tariff starting from February 1. He added that the tariff would increase to 25 per cent from June 1 “until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
Accusing the affected countries of playing “a very dangerous game,” Trump framed the proposed tariffs as leverage to pressure European governments into backing his Greenland plan.
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Greenland, though sparsely populated, is rich in natural resources and occupies a strategically significant location between North America and the Arctic. Its position makes it vital for early missile warning systems and the monitoring of shipping routes in the Arctic region.
Trump has previously stated that Washington would obtain Greenland “the easy way or the hard way,” remarks widely interpreted as a reference to either purchasing the island or taking it by force.
In Copenhagen, protesters held placards reading “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland For Greenlanders,” as demonstrators called for respect for Greenland’s sovereignty and self-determination.
“It’s very important that we stay together and show that Greenland is not for sale,” Greenlandic politician Erik Jensen told reporters. “We do not want to be Americans, and we do not want to be annexed by the United States.”
The protests were organised by Greenlandic and Danish non-governmental organisations. Camilla Siezing, head of Inuit, an umbrella group of Greenlandic associations, said the demonstrations were a clear demand for respect.
“We demand respect for the Danish Realm and for Greenland’s right to self-determination,” she said.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, joined protesters carrying banners reading “Greenland Is Not For Sale” and “We Shape Our Future” as they marched toward the US consulate.
Opinion polls indicate that about 85 per cent of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States.
Several European countries have since rallied behind Denmark, arguing that Arctic security should remain a shared responsibility under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK have reportedly dispatched small numbers of troops to Greenland on a reconnaissance mission.
Meanwhile, scepticism remains in the United States over the feasibility of acquiring Greenland. Although most members of the visiting congressional delegation are Democrats, the 11-member team also includes moderate Republicans.
“There are legitimate reasons to explore stronger investment in Arctic security, both in the American Arctic and among our NATO partners,” Senator Coons said, adding that such discussions must be conducted through cooperation rather than confrontation.