Greenland’s PM pushes for independence from Denmark

The renewed call comes after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed interest in purchasing the island.

Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, has renewed calls for independence from Denmark after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed interest in purchasing the Arctic island.

In his New Year’s address, Egede stressed the need to “remove the obstacles to cooperation –which we can describe as the shackles of the colonial era –and move on,” signaling a potential referendum on independence.

“Our cooperation with other countries and our trade relations cannot continue to take place solely through Denmark,” he said. “Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state.”

Greenland (the world’s largest non-continental island by area, with a population of around 56,000) has been an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark since 1979, managing its own internal affairs while Copenhagen oversees foreign and defense policies.

The island has the legal right to declare independence, but concerns persist regarding economic sustainability, as Greenland’s economy heavily relies on fishing and annual grants from Denmark, which constitute around two-thirds of its budget. A 2016 poll indicated that 64% of Greenlanders favoured full independence. However, in a 2017 poll, 78% expressed opposition if it would lead to a decline in living standards.

The US president-elect said in a post on Truth Social in December that “for purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the US feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

During his first term, Trump repeatedly expressed his intention to purchase Greenland, referring to it as “a large real estate deal.” His renewed interest has faced firm rejections from both Greenlandic and Danish officials.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” Egede said in December. Similarly, Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, dismissed the proposal, stressing that Greenland is not for sale.

Shortly after Trump’s post, Denmark announced plans to bolster its military presence in the region and in Greenland. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen revealed a defense package exceeding $1.5 billion aimed at enhancing surveillance and security in the area. This initiative includes deploying patrol vessels, long-range drones, and additional personnel to the Arctic Command.

“We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years; now we are planning a stronger presence,” Poulsen said, calling the timing of the announcement an “irony of fate.”

Greenland’s strategic importance has grown due to its abundant natural resources, such as rare earth minerals, and its pivotal location in the Arctic, which is becoming increasingly accessible due to climate changes. The Arctic’s potential for resource extraction and new shipping routes has attracted global interest, particularly from Russia, China, and the US.

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Greenland scheduled before April 6, 2025 are expected to play a crucial role in determining the island’s path forward. “It is necessary to take major steps… The upcoming election period must, together with the citizens, create these new steps,” Egede said.