In the remote, icy capital of Greenland, a diplomatic storm is brewing that has left its 20,000 inhabitants feeling both insulted and threatened. The source of the turmoil? Repeated statements from former and potentially future US President Donald Trump that he intends for America to 'own' Greenland, suggesting military force remains an option.
'The Land is Owned by Greenland by Law'
For locals in Nuuk, the recent rhetoric is not just fantastical talk but a profound disrespect. By law, land in Greenland cannot be bought by individuals, a fact that makes Trump's boasts about doing a 'deal' particularly galling. "He is like a gangster," states Simon Pedersen, a 35-year-old plumber who moved from Denmark six years ago. "The land is owned by Greenland by law. This is important to the national identity and culture. So how can Trump just say he'll buy it?"
The sentiment is echoed widely. Mads Pedersen, another local plumber, expressed disgust at the suggestion that Greenlanders could be bought off with promises of annual $10,000 stipends. "We don't give a damn about his money," Mads said bluntly. "We people wouldn't do it for a million dollars." He believes Trump has "blown the whole game" by threatening force, destroying any chance of trust or diplomatic negotiation with the proud Inuit community.
A Strategic Prize in a New Cold War
The global interest in Greenland is no accident. The island sits at the centre of a new geopolitical struggle for the Arctic, prized for its vast reserves of rare earth minerals and newly accessible shipping routes unlocked by melting ice. While the US already has significant access and a friendly relationship with Greenland's government, Trump's language of annexation has escalated tensions unnecessarily.
Christian Keldsen, director of the Greenland Business Association and Britain's honorary consul on the island, notes the mix of irritation and fear. "Somebody is talking about their country as just being a block of ice or a piece of land, forgetting that this place actually contains people, it contains culture, it contains our everyday lives," he explained. Keldsen stressed that talk of a military takeover is "ridiculous," given the existing cooperative frameworks.
Unity and Identity Against External Pressure
The crisis has, ironically, underscored the deep bonds between Greenland and its sovereign ruler, Denmark. Simon Pedersen highlighted the interwoven families and shared culture, stating that despite historic grievances, the two nations are not in a state of emergency. The shared resolve against an external threat is palpable.
Father of three Martin Nielsen, 41, summed up the anxiety for the future: "Trump taking over by force seems like a nightmare scenario and we just hope nothing like that happens." His hope, like that of many, is for his children to have opportunities for education, whether in Denmark or at home in Greenland—a future decided by Greenlanders themselves.
The imposing new US consulate in Nuuk, once seen as a symbol of friendship, now casts a different shadow. For the people of Greenland, Inuit Nunaat—'the land of the people'—the message to the world is clear: they are not a commodity to be purchased, but a nation with a fierce pride and a determined will to remain masters of their own frozen, beautiful domain.
