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Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk, sees widespread support among residents for maintaining its status within Denmark, with many calling for a pause on independence talks before key meetings in Washington this week. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up his focus on the Arctic region.
Greenlandic and Danish foreign officials are scheduled to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, amid renewed threats of US controlling Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirmed Greenland’s loyalty to Denmark, rejecting any notion of becoming a US territory. “We’re facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we must choose right now between the US and Denmark, we choose Denmark,” Nielsen told reporters in Copenhagen on Tuesday, standing alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “We stand united within the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Political shifts seem to point toward discussions of long-term independence rather than immediate autonomy. Finn Meinel, a lawyer based in Nuuk, expressed that staying under Denmark’s wing and NATO’s security umbrella is a prudent move for the future.
Many residents are uneasy about potential US intervention. Charlotte Heilmann, a retired resident of Nuuk, said, “I can’t picture myself as an American. We belong to Denmark and NATO, so I don’t understand why the US keeps insisting on taking our land.”
Casper Frank Moller, a tour operator, noted how recent US threats have actually strengthened Greenlanders’ sense of unity. “Last year, some people still focused on quick independence, but the recent threats have brought us together. We’re standing against possible annexation, and I hope tomorrow’s diplomatic talks can resolve this peacefully.”
For many Greenlanders, the land is more than just territory — it’s home. Since 1979, Greenland has been progressively gaining self-governance. Naaja Nathanielsen, responsible for business, energy, and minerals, emphasized there’s no urgency for full independence. “To others, it might be just land, but for us, it’s home,” she said from London. She added that Greenlanders are comfortable being part of Denmark and see their country as allies of the U.S., not as Americans themselves.
U.S. officials have repeatedly highlighted Greenland’s strategic importance for national security. There are discussions about how to bring Greenland under U.S. control, including potential military use and payments to Greenlanders to encourage secession from Denmark.
The upcoming meeting in Washington is seen as critical. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt requested it, emphasizing diplomacy. Rasmussen said, “We want to sit face-to-face and work things out.”
Denmark, which has overseen Greenland for centuries, is under increasing pressure to strengthen defenses in the Arctic amidst rising geopolitical tensions. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels next week, with plans for multinational NATO exercises in Greenland by 2026.
Prime Minister Frederiksen acknowledged the difficulty of standing up to the U.S., calling them their most important ally, but warned that the hardest challenges may lie ahead.
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