Thousands of Greenlanders braved icy streets on Saturday in what observers call the largest coordinated protests the Arctic island has ever witnessed. The massive rally aimed to reject renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump to take control of Greenland while voicing strong support for Greenland's self-rule.
Unprecedented Turnout in Nuuk
In Nuuk, the capital city, demonstrators waved their national flag proudly. They carried hand-painted signs declaring "Greenland is not for sale" and chanted in Greenlandic as they marched from the city center to the US Consulate. Police had sealed off the consulate building as a precaution.
According to police and organizers, the march attracted nearly a quarter of Nuuk's entire population. This made the event truly unprecedented for a city with fewer than 20,000 residents. Similar protests and solidarity rallies occurred in other Greenlandic towns throughout the day.
Prime Minister Joins the People
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen personally joined the march in Nuuk. At one dramatic moment, he climbed onto a snowbank to raise the Greenland flag high while the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
"We said it last year, and we will keep saying it: We are not for sale," declared Isak Berthelsen, a 43-year-old electrician who participated in the protest. He told reporters that repeating this message felt "energizing" because it demonstrated Greenlanders have "our own voice."
Breaking Point Reached
Many protesters explained they had reached a breaking point after repeated statements by Trump suggesting the United States would take Greenland "one way or the other." These comments have created growing frustration among Greenland's population.
"Every new statement makes it worse," said Kristian Johansen, a retired carpenter who helped organize the demonstration. "I hope it can show him that we stand together in Europe."
Nuuk police officer Tom Olsen echoed this sentiment, stating firmly, "We are not going down without a fight."
Trump Announces Tariffs
As the protest in Nuuk concluded, news broke that Trump had announced a 10% import tax on goods from Denmark and several other European countries. This tariff will take effect in February and targets nations opposing US control of Greenland.
"I thought this day couldn't get any worse but it just did," said Malik Dollerup-Scheibel, a 21-year-old protester, after learning about the tariff announcement.
Autonomy Matters More
Despite concerns about the economic impact of these tariffs, several demonstrators emphasized that Greenland's autonomy mattered more than financial considerations.
"This is a fight for freedom," said former Greenland lawmaker Tillie Martinussen, capturing the sentiment of many participants.
Why Trump Wants Greenland
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons. He cites growing global competition in the Arctic region as justification for this position.
The White House reiterated this stance last week, even as protests spread across Greenland and Denmark. "The President has made his priority quite clear. He wants the United States to acquire Greenland," stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a media briefing.
She added that European NATO troop deployments to Greenland would not affect Trump's plans, saying these developments did not "impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all."
Trump has warned that if the United States does not take control of Greenland, rival powers would gain influence instead. He specifically mentioned that "China or Russia will" otherwise establish dominance over the strategically located Arctic island. These comments have heightened tensions within NATO and alarmed many Greenlanders.
Rising International Tensions
The renewed push for Greenland comes alongside increased military activity in the Arctic region. European NATO countries including France, Germany, Sweden and Norway have announced troop deployments to Greenland as part of Danish-led security exercises.
Germany's defense ministry stated the mission aimed to examine ways to ensure Arctic security in response to what it described as "Russian and Chinese threats." France confirmed its first personnel were already en route to the region.
The protests followed a week of heightened diplomatic and military activity. Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced a working group would be established to address security issues. However, she stressed that "the American ambition to take over Greenland remains intact," calling the situation "a serious matter."
Simple Message from Protesters
Greenland's deputy prime minister, Mute Egede, noted that NATO forces would have a greater presence in coming days. Russia has criticized these military deployments.
For many protesters, however, the message remained straightforward and clear. "We are not American, and we will never be American," declared Maria Meier Brun at a solidarity rally in Copenhagen, where similar protests took place.
The coordinated demonstrations across Greenland and Denmark represent a powerful statement of national identity and self-determination. As Arctic tensions continue to rise, Greenlanders have made their position unmistakably clear through these historic protests.
