Thousands of protesters rallied across Denmark on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Greenland after Donald Trump threatened to use economic pressure, including tariffs, and did not rule out force to secure U.S. control of the Arctic island, demonstrators and organisers said.
The protests came a day after Trump said he was considering using tariffs against countries opposing U.S. plans related to Greenland.
Crowds gathered in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square before marching to the U.S. embassy, chanting “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off Greenland”, while waving Greenland’s red-and-white Erfalasorput flag.
Protests were also reported elsewhere in Denmark, with a further rally planned later on Saturday in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
“I am very grateful for the huge support we as Greenlanders receive,” said Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut, an organisation for Greenlanders in Denmark. “Greenland and the Greenlanders have involuntarily become the front in the fight for democracy and human rights.”
Reuters video showed thousands of demonstrators, though police and organisers declined to give an official crowd estimate.
Trump said on Friday that he could use tariffs to pressure countries that do not support Washington’s position on Greenland, arguing that the island is vital for U.S. national security.
Speaking during a White House roundtable on rural healthcare, Trump said economic measures could be deployed against governments that “don’t go along with Greenland”, recalling how he previously used the threat of tariffs to influence French drug-pricing policy.
Earlier this week, he said anything short of total U.S. control of Greenland would be “unacceptable”.
There is no agreement or legal framework allowing a transfer of sovereignty, and both Denmark and Greenland have rejected the idea of U.S. control, stressing that Greenland’s future can only be decided by its people.
Trump’s repeated statements have triggered an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Washington and Copenhagen, both founding members of NATO, and have drawn sharp criticism from European allies.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has enjoyed broad self-rule since 1979 but remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains control over defence and foreign policy and funds much of the territory’s administration.
All five parties in Greenland’s parliament ultimately favour independence, though they differ on timing and have recently said they would rather remain within Denmark than become part of the United States.
The demonstrations were organised by Greenlandic groups in cooperation with ActionAid Denmark. “We demand respect for the Danish Realm and for Greenland’s right to self-determination,” said Camilla Siezing, chair of Inuit, the Joint Association of Greenlandic Local Associations in Denmark. About 17,000 Greenlanders live in Denmark, according to official figures.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that just 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland, with large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans opposing the use of military force. Trump has dismissed the poll as “fake”.
Why does Greenland matter?
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains control over defence and foreign policy. While Greenland is not a NATO member itself, it is tied to the alliance through Denmark and plays a growing role in transatlantic security.
Its strategic importance has increased as Arctic ice melts, opening new shipping routes between North America and Europe. The island also holds significant, largely untapped mineral resources, including rare earths vital for advanced technologies and defence industries.
The United States already maintains a military presence at Pituffik Space Base, which is central to missile warning and space surveillance for the U.S. and NATO.
Trump’s comments come as NATO sharpens its focus on the Arctic amid growing competition with Russia and China.
Troops from five European countries were recently deployed to Greenland for a short mission aimed at strengthening coordination in Arctic conditions, while Denmark has announced plans to boost its military presence there with allied support.
Diplomatic engagement has intensified in Washington. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met this week with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as allies seek to manage the fallout from Trump’s remarks.
European officials have warned that linking tariffs or other economic pressure to Greenland could escalate trade disputes and further strain transatlantic relations, adding to geopolitical uncertainty in the Arctic.
Trump has not outlined a clear timeline or legal mechanism for imposing tariffs linked to Greenland, leaving allies uncertain about Washington’s next steps.
With NATO increasing its Arctic footprint and European allies reinforcing their presence in Greenland, tensions are likely to persist, potentially shaping both transatlantic relations and the future balance of power in the region.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the...
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare U.S.-driven diplomatic effort to halt escalating violence between...
Myanmar’s newly installed president, Min Aung Hlaing, has said his government faces major challenges and must work to restore the country&rsq...
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, ...
NASA’s Artemis II crew has returned safely to Earth after completing a landmark journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar missi...
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare U.S.-driven diplomatic effort to halt escalating violence between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Myanmar’s newly installed president, Min Aung Hlaing, has said his government faces major challenges and must work to restore the country’s international standing, including rebuilding strained ties with Southeast Asia after years of isolation.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana, is suing him for libel at the High Court in London, according to a court record published on Friday (10 April).
The European Union and Washington are nearing an agreement to coordinate the production and security of critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Friday (10 April).
In a forceful rebuke to Washington’s foreign policy in the Americas, a senior Russian diplomat has declared that Moscow will never abandon Cuba, pledging ongoing support to help the Communist-run island overcome a severe energy crisis linked to the United States embargo.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment