Greenland’s entire political spectrum closed ranks to reject U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of the Arctic island, issuing a rare joint statement asserting the territory’s right to self-determination and demanding respect for international law.
“We will not be Americans, we will not be Danes, we are Greenlanders,” the leaders said in a statement released late Tuesday. The five party chiefs — including Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen — said they “strongly oppose” any U.S. takeover of Greenland and condemned recent American statements as “extremely disrespectful.”
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The joint declaration marks an unusual show of unity in Nuuk and underscores rising tensions over U.S. intentions in the Arctic. Trump has repeatedly suggested the United States needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining a foothold, arguing that existing military agreements do not go far enough.
“No other country can meddle in this. We must decide our country’s future ourselves — without pressure to make a hasty decision, without procrastination, and without interference from other countries,” the statement said.
Trump has intensified his rhetoric in recent days. In an interview with the New York Times, he said U.S. ownership of Greenland was “psychologically needed for success,” and he has refused to rule out the use of military force. On Wednesday, he told reporters at the White House, “We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not.”
Greenland’s leaders framed their response as a defense of sovereignty and stability in the Arctic, calling for “mutual respect,” “equality and partnership,” and adherence to international law. “No countries, big or small, can change” the Greenlandic people’s right to chart their own path, they said.
The United States already holds extensive military rights in Greenland under a 1951 agreement with Denmark, including access to a major space base. But Trump has argued that only full ownership would guarantee the island’s defense, citing fears about Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
The Greenlandic statement also follows domestic debate about Nuuk’s foreign engagement. Just days earlier, Broberg had urged bypassing Copenhagen to negotiate directly with Washington — a suggestion the joint front effectively rebuffs by insisting that the island’s future “must be decided by the Greenlandic people themselves.”
The political showdown comes as the White House hardens its posture abroad, with Trump’s remarks on Greenland following last week’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela. His comments add a fresh flashpoint to a broader contest for influence in the Arctic, where climate change is opening sea routes and intensifying strategic competition among major powers.
While Copenhagen retains constitutional responsibilities over foreign affairs and defense, Greenland exercises wide autonomy and has repeatedly asserted its long-term ambition for greater self-government. Wednesday’s statement signals that, despite internal differences, political leaders agree on one point: decisions about the island’s future will be made in Nuuk, not Washington or Copenhagen.
There was no immediate indication of next steps from the United States beyond Trump’s remarks. Greenland’s leaders said they remain open to dialogue based on “mutual respect,” but drew a clear line against pressure, interference or any attempt to fast-track decisions about the island’s status.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
