The United States has intensified its rhetoric regarding Greenland, with officials, including members of the Trump administration, labeling the Arctic territory as a ‘national security priority’ for the country.
President Trump initially threatened to annex Greenland following his seizure of Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro, warning that the island could be the next target. This stance was reiterated on Tuesday (January 6) by press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who mentioned that military action ‘is always an option’.
This aggressive posture from the US does not take into account the views of Greenland’s inhabitants, who have clearly stated in various polls that they oppose becoming a US territory.
A poll conducted last year revealed that 85 percent of the island’s residents were against the idea. This sentiment has been echoed in media interviews, where locals have expressed their disapproval. For instance, a young Greenlander described Trump as a ‘bad individual’ who views people ‘like we’re small mice’ during a conversation with a Sky News reporter.
The political leaders in Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, have also been vocal in their criticism. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged the US to ‘stop the threats,’ while other parliament members have condemned Trump’s approach of treating their country as a commodity.
In a discussion with Sky, Greenland MP Nivi Rosing advised her compatriots to ‘prepare for the worst and hope for the best,’ but dismissed Trump’s threats as ‘crazy nonsense’.
The native Inuit politician addressed Trump directly, saying: “We are not a business we are a people. we’re a people with our own country and culture, language.”
“I know Donald Trump is a businessman, but Greenland is not a product. We’re a people and should be taken very seriously and that should be respected.”
Rosing also pointed out the potential danger of the US using military reasons to reoccupy its former Cold War bases on the island.
“I’m personally afraid that he has to have a reason to take over our country by saying, ‘oh, they have Russian and Chinese ships in their waters’, which we don’t have,” Rosing said.
The United States could potentially reactivate its military presence on Greenland without invasion due to a 1951 treaty, which was revised in 2004 to acknowledge Greenland’s increasing autonomy, permitting American military actions if perceived threats exist.
Currently, the sole US military base on the island is Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, staffed by only 150 personnel. This is a significant decrease from the 6,000 military personnel present during the Cold War era.
The renewed agreement includes a clause stating: “The United States will consult with and inform the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, prior to the implementation of any significant changes to United States military operations or facilities in Greenland.”
Despite the ongoing threats from Trump regarding Greenland’s sovereignty, many residents interviewed by journalists on the island believe that the president’s aggressive stance is more about rhetoric than action.
One local remarked: “I think he’s very good at making a fuss about things so everybody keeps talking about it just like now. He’s very good at that.
“And I think that his purpose to do stuff like that to make people uncomfortable.”
She added that she does not take Trump’s threats seriously, believing that if he attempted an invasion, NATO allies would ‘back us up’.