In the frozen capital of Nuuk, a fierce spirit of defiance is burning as Greenlanders confront what they see as an outrageous threat from former US President Donald Trump. Reports that Trump, backed by US military might, has not ruled out using force to acquire the vast North Atlantic island have been met with unified resistance and anger from its people.
A Unified Cry for Freedom in Nuuk
The sentiment on the snowbound streets is unequivocal. Morten Meller, 60, encapsulated the mood, declaring passionately, "No. He cannot do this. We must have our FREEDOM!" Speaking from Daddy's bar, Meller, like the fishermen around him, rejected the notion that Greenland or its people could be purchased. "Donald Trump thinks he can buy us, pay money for us, but we are human beings. We cannot be bought," he stated. This view was unanimous among those approached by reporters in Nuuk, with many now perceiving Trump's explicitly forceful plans as the actions of a "gangster."
Scallop fisherman Peter Hessner, with over 30 years of experience skippering his boat, did not mince his words. Gesturing towards ravens, he said of the former President, "He’s nuts. Everyone knows it, even the birds know it." Hessner, who desires eventual independence from Denmark, stressed that a US takeover would be a disaster, worse than the current arrangement. "We want to run our own country... I wouldn’t take a deal to be part of America for any amount of money," he asserted, confident in Greenland's potential wealth from minerals and fishing.
The Next Generation's Fierce Pride
The younger generation shares this steadfast pride. Student Malik Jensen, 17, had a blunt message for Trump: "f*** you." He expressed the fear and anger felt by many, stating, "We don’t want our country to be invaded." Jensen believes that Greenland's culture and history are paramount and cannot be traded for American dollars, a sentiment echoed by his friend, 16-year-old Malik Karlsen. Karlsen is among the few who take Trump's threat of force seriously, citing the precedent of US actions in Venezuela. "After what he did with Venezuela’s president, I don’t think it’s a bluff," he said.
This deep-seated attachment to homeland overrides even pressing domestic concerns. Both Malik Jensen and removal agent Petrina Lange, 29, emphasised that no financial incentive, not even to fix Greenland's struggling health service, would be worth surrendering sovereignty. "We need to get the health service sorted out but not at that price," Karlsen confirmed.
A Test for NATO and a Lone Dissenting Voice
The crisis presents a direct challenge to the NATO alliance, according to former NATO soldier Inuit Mohammed Lundblad, 35. He served from age 19 to 23 and believes the alliance's strength is now being tested. "NATO has to be strong here," Lundblad argued, suggesting that while the US has greater firepower, it would be "crazy" for Trump to make an enemy of all NATO nations over Greenland.
Amidst the overwhelming opposition, one voice stood apart. Unemployed 35-year-old Julio Sangreen, found drinking near Nuuk's shopping mall, represented a starkly pragmatic view shaped by hardship. "We want Trump. We want America because we need money," he said, highlighting the social problems that persist despite Greenland's beauty. "I have no money for even food yet our country would be very rich if we deal with Trump." His perspective, however, remained a solitary one in the capital, where the overwhelming consensus is a resounding rejection of Trump's ambitions and a reaffirmation of Greenlandic identity and the right to self-determination.
