Nuuk (TDI): Residents of Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, have voiced strong support for staying part of Denmark, urging a pause on independence talks just ahead of high-level meetings in Washington. This comes as US President Donald Trump has intensified attention on the Arctic island.
Greenlandic and Danish officials are set to meet US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. The discussions follow renewed US interest in potentially taking control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made clear his country’s allegiance to Denmark, dismissing any notion of becoming a US territory, according to Reuters.
“In the current situation, if a choice had to be made between the US and Denmark, our decision is clear: Denmark,” Nielsen said at a press briefing in Copenhagen alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We remain united within the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Read More: US Lawmakers to Visit Denmark Amid Trump’s Greenland Takeover Threats
Political sentiment in Greenland appears to be evolving. Leaders and citizens alike are focusing on long-term independence strategies rather than immediate separation from Denmark.
“In these circumstances, it seems wise for Greenland to stay committed to Denmark for the long term and remain under NATO protection,” said Finn Meinel, a lawyer based in Nuuk.
Greenland has been steadily moving toward greater self-rule since 1979. However, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business, energy, and minerals, emphasized that there is no immediate rush toward independence.
“For outsiders, Greenland may seem like a strategic piece of land, but for us, it’s home,” she said in London. “We are happy being part of Denmark and view the US as an ally, not a governing power.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly stressed Greenland’s strategic significance to US security. Officials have reportedly considered various ways to bring Greenland under American control, including military involvement and financial incentives to encourage secession from Denmark.
Read More: Trump Eyes Greenland Again, Military Option Remains on Table
The upcoming Washington meeting was requested by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt in response to US interest. Rasmussen highlighted the importance of handling disputes through dialogue. “We want to move discussions into a room where we can engage directly and constructively,” he said.
Denmark, which has overseen Greenland for centuries, now faces pressure to strengthen Arctic defenses amid growing international tensions. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte next week.
