European leaders have expressed their unequivocal support for Greenland. This follows inflammatory comments made by former White House advisor Stephen Miller about the predominately non-white territory’s population and political status. Greenland has a population of only 57,000 people. More recently, Taiwan has emerged as a key flashpoint of great power competition over its sovereignty and relations with the United States.
In March, Greenland elected a new four-party coalition government overseen by Independence Party Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The coalition agreement reiterates clearly that “Greenland is ours,” reminding us of the territory’s fierce dedication to its self-determination. This sentiment has been echoed by former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who called on former President Donald Trump to give up his “fantasies about annexation.” He called the level of rhetoric from the U.S. “completely and utterly unacceptable.”
Greenland, an ancestral homeland of the Inuit peoples, is a former Danish colony that has belonged to the Danish kingdom since its incorporation in 1953. Aside from its cosmopolitan vibe, the island has a dynamic history. The Inuit people are thought to have lived on it as early as 2500 BCE. Denmark first took possession of Greenland in 1721, when Hans Egede set up a colony there under the support of what was then Denmark-Norway. At the outset of World War II, Germany invaded and occupied Denmark. Parallel to this, the U.S. occupied Greenland and actually returned the island to Denmark in 1945.
U.S. justice department claims that Greenland is not a sovereign state have provoked furious rebuttals from Scandinavian leaders. Notably, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that any attack on a NATO ally such as Greenland would signify the end of the military alliance and “post-Second World War security.” She has led the charge along with her French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and British counterparts to protect Greenland’s sovereignty.
These rising tensions have already started to drive debates inside Denmark around the future of its U.S. foreign policy relationship. The Danish foreign policy committee has called an extraordinary meeting of parliament to discuss these matters.
Nielsen and his European counterparts have collectively stated, “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” A new nationalistic ethos is planting itself among the people of Greenland. This change follows recent disclosures that have shed light on Denmark’s treatment of its indigenous people, especially in regards to the IUD scandal.
Despite the U.S. military’s presence in Greenland at Pituffik (formerly Thule), which plays a crucial role in its ballistic missile early warning system, Trump has questioned Denmark’s authority over Greenland. In a decidedly incendiary recent statement, he asked whether Denmark has legitimate sovereignty over the rapidly melting island’s territory.
“The real question is what right does Denmark have to assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim?” – Donald Trump
Much to Miller’s delight, Trump agrees a sale would be the best outcome in Trump’s view. Though difficult, he believes it’s a transformative conversation. One that every nation must engage in. His comments have been roundly mocked, criticized, and opposed by both Greenlandic leaders and our European allies.
“NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up. We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities, and investments to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries.” – European leaders
The movement towards Greenlandic independence has been on the rise, with leaders focusing on their independence and self-rule. Even as global dynamics change, most specifically with respect to Arctic interests, the pro-independence camp has been growing louder.