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.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military position...
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tourna...
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev a...
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported...
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military positions in Mali on Saturday and said it had seized control of at least three of them.
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tournament.
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev and Japarov had ruled the Central Asian nation in tandem since 2020, until the former was unexpectedly ousted in February.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military positions in Mali on Saturday and said it had seized control of at least three of them.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment