Protests broke out in various locations in Greenland and Denmark in opposition to Donald Trump’s repeated declarations of intent to claim the island territory, with the US President threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that oppose his annexation aspirations.
Large crowds of protesters filled the streets of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, brandishing the red and white flag of the island territory, asserting its non-negotiable status. While Trump argued that US control of Greenland is crucial for national security, Denmark strongly refuted this claim, emphasizing that the US was allowed to station more troops on the island but insisting that they would not “sell off” their people to Washington DC.
Responding to challenges against his annexation plans, Trump retaliated by revealing a proposal to impose a 10 percent tariff on the UK and other countries, with a potential increase to 25 percent by June 1, until an agreement is reached for the complete acquisition of Greenland.
Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s actions, affirming that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, emphasizing the importance of Arctic security for NATO, and criticizing the imposition of tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security initiatives. Starmer pledged to address this issue directly with the US administration.
According to a survey conducted by Verian in January 2025, the vast majority of Greenlanders either support independence or prefer to remain part of Denmark, with only six percent expressing a desire to join the US. Any attempt to forcibly take over Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, would trigger intervention by NATO allies.
In Nuuk, Greenlanders expressed their opposition to becoming part of the US, reaffirming their preference for independence or Danish affiliation. Denmark has historically considered itself a dependable ally to the US.
Greenland, which has been a self-governing entity within Denmark since 2009, has been a Danish territory for centuries, although aspirations for independence have been prevalent among its population. Demonstrations also took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, denouncing Trump’s stance on Greenland.