By Anders Berthelsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
NUUK/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – The renewed interest shown by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Greenland has been met with mixed reactions from the local populace. While some Greenlanders have welcomed the attention, others assert that the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark is not up for sale.
Trump, set to assume office on Jan. 20, recently stated that U.S. control over the strategically crucial Arctic island is “absolutely necessary.” Furthermore, during a press conference, he did not dismiss the possibility of utilizing military or economic measures to secure control. On the same day, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., conducted a private visit to the region.
Expressing skepticism towards the president-elect’s intentions, resident Mikael Ludvidsen of Nuuk remarked to Reuters, “I believe he is being overly vocal. I find it hard to take him seriously when he talks about forcibly taking us over.” Local Niels Nielsen echoed this sentiment, stating that Greenland “is not for sale.”
Conversely, some residents view the prospect of aligning with a global superpower positively, citing potential benefits for Greenland’s small population of 57,000. Jens Ostermann, carrying a child shielded from the winter chill, advocated for partnering with a major power, emphasizing Greenland’s natural resources, remarking, “We should align with a major power because Greenland is a wealthy nation, we have everything here.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has called for calm and unity among residents, while also expressing a desire for full independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler.
The reception of Donald Trump Jr. was marked by some locals donning “Make America Great Again” caps. Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq featured the headline, “Warm but reserved welcome for Donald Trump Jr.,” reflecting the diversity of opinions among Greenlanders regarding the future of their homeland.
Aki-Matilda Hoegh-Dam, a member of Greenland’s social-democratic Siumut party in the Danish parliament, highlighted the significance of Trump’s interest in Greenland within the current geopolitical landscape, stating, “Trump’s reaction underscores the geopolitical importance of Greenland at this juncture.”
(Reporting by Anders Berthelsen in Nuuk and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Additional reporting by Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
