“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans.” The phrase It is from the former Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute B. Egede. And although the leader lost his position during the elections of 2025 captures well the feelings of a large part of the population of the Arctic island, an autonomous region that in practice remains linked to the Kingdom of Denmark. Polls reveal that Greenlanders they don’t like it Donald Trump’s idea of becoming part of the United States, but it is that many (many) They also dream of saying goodbye to Copenhagen.
The reason (as usual) must be found in history books.
One figure: 85%. Polls are just that, polls, but they help us better understand how societies think. With Trump insisting in his aspirations for Greenland to remain under US control, in recent days he has dusted himself off a poll made a year ago, when the Republican (recently arrived at the White House) hinted at his interest in the Arctic island.
The study, published by Berlingske and Sermitsiaqshows that 85% of Greenlanders reject the idea of being part of the US. Another 9% have doubts about it and only 6% are in favor of raising the stars and stripes flag. Even Trump’s interest in Greenland divides opinion: 45% of those surveyed see it “a threat”, 43% “an opportunity”.
Better with Denmark? That is one of the conclusions that could be drawn from the survey. Although Greenland is located in North America and its capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York than to Copenhagen, the island is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. If Greenlanders refuse to integrate into the US, does that mean they are comfortable with their current status? Do you like your relationship with Denmark? Another surveysomewhat older, from 2019, reveals that the answer is “no.”
The study, carried out by academics from the University of Copenhagen, revealed that 67.7% of adults of Greenland hope that at some point the island will cut its ties with Denmark. A part of those interviewed would in fact support independence within a ten-year horizon and another, larger percentage, see it as feasible in the middle of the next decade. Maybe 2019 is behind us in time, but that feeling seems to be still very much alive on the island.
“The shackles of colonialism”. Just a year ago the former prime minister, Mute Egede, made headlines with a speech New Year’s Day in which he floated the idea of Greenland becoming independent. “History and current conditions have shown that our cooperation with the Kingdom has not managed to create full equality,” claimed the leader of the People’s Community party.
“The time has come for our country to take the next step. Like other nations around the world, we must work to remove obstacles to cooperation, which we can describe as the shackles of colonialism, and move forward,” he emphasized. Egede did not manage to retain his position, but his successor, Jens-Frederick Nielsen, also represents an independence party, although from the more moderate sector. Its strategy for the moment involves strengthening ties with Copenhagen, although making it clear that as a “closest partner”.
And why that feeling? Nationalist issues aside, the desire of a large part of Greenlanders to distance themselves from Denmark is explained by a very simple reason: the relationship between both territories has not always been simple. Quite the opposite. The recent past has been marred by tragic chapters which have forced the Danish authorities to apologize publicly in an attempt to heal wounds and strengthen the bond.
Reviewing history. The current relationship between the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland dates back to the 18th centurywhen the Danes they began to colonize the island, inhabited for centuries by the Inuit. In 1814 the territory officially became a Danish colony, a relationship that was redefined first in 1953 and later in 1979, when the island achieved autonomy. However, it would take several decades for Copenhagen to transfer powers to it.
As recognize The Danish Executive itself, that milestone was not achieved until well into the 21st century, although the Kingdom continues to hold some key functions, such as foreign affairs, security and financial policy responsibilities. Since 2009 the island has had a autonomy statute renovated (endorsed by a vast majority of its population) that gives it the possibility of self-determination
In practice, much of the island’s economy is based on the so-called “block grant”contributions from the Danish Government. Some actually believe that the Nordic welfare system supported in Denmark and the Danish contribution to island finances are crucial to keeping their link alive. The US knows it and that is probably why it considers paying between 10,000 and 100,000 dollars to every Greenlander to encourage them to ‘divorce’ Denmark, according to Reuters.
Two episodes to forget. In the recent relationship between Denmark and Greenland there are two chapters that weigh especially heavily and have even eroded the image of “benign colonizers” that the Danes have had of themselves for generations. One of these episodes involves thousands of indigenous women.
A 2022 research revealed that for decades, between the 60s and almost the early 90s, thousands of Inuit women were forced to use contraceptive methods, resorting to intrauterine devices that were sometimes implanted without the patients’ permission or knowledge.
Some sources indicate that this Danish birth plan affected around 4,500 women (and girls) Greenlanders between 1966 and 1976. The objective: to control the growth of the Inuit population. The revelations are so alarming that a few months ago the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, participated in an event in Nuuk during which she apologized for “injustice and pain” caused.
Closing wounds. It was not the only time that the Danish authorities have had to apologize. Years ago they did it for another turbulent chapter in the relationship between both territories: a social experiment started in the 1950s that consisted of removing Greenlandic children from their homes (sometimes under pressure) to leave them in the care of foster families in Denmark.
The idea was for them to soak up the continental language and culture and then “modernize” the arctic island. The experiment, today known as “The Little Danes”, was a failure and forced Frederiksen to apologize in 2022. three years before Trump had already hinted at his interest in Greenland.
Images | Annie Spratt (Unsplash) and Visit Greenland (Unsplash)
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