Thousands of people protested in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, on Saturday against US President Donald Trump’s plans to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. The demonstrations followed Trump’s warning that he may impose tariffs on countries opposing his plans for the mineral-rich island.
The protests coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan US Congressional delegation, which has expressed opposition to the Trump administration’s stance. The delegation met with top Danish and Greenlandic politicians and business leaders, discussing the issue.
In Copenhagen, protesters waved Danish and Greenlandic flags, chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!” – the Greenlandic name for the island. Similar marches and rallies were organized in other Danish cities, including Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense, as well as in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
The protests aimed to send a unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights. Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, emphasized the importance of unity in the face of rising tensions.
The Copenhagen rally began at 12:00 pm local time and was scheduled to stop outside the US embassy. A sister demonstration in Nuuk was planned for 4:00 pm local time, with protesters marching to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags.
According to recent polls, 85% of Greenlanders oppose the territory joining the United States, with only 6% in favor. US Democratic Senator Chris Coons, leading the Congressional delegation, stated that there is no security threat to Greenland to justify the Trump administration’s stance.
Coons emphasized the need for investment in Arctic security due to climate change and shifting shipping routes. Trump has criticized Denmark, a NATO ally, for not doing enough to ensure Greenland’s security, despite the island being covered by NATO’s security umbrella.
European NATO members, including Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, have announced plans to deploy troops to Greenland for a military exercise, demonstrating their commitment to defending the island’s sovereignty. The exercise aims to show the world, including the United States, that they will protect their Arctic territories.
