Greenlanders respond to US interest in Greenland in the wake of Trump remarks
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 16, 2026, 22:24 IST
Concern spreads among locals and authorities in Greenland following comments from U.S. leaders regarding ownership of the Arctic territory, which operates under Danish rule with self-governance. Doubt mixes with firmness as reactions emerge across communities. Statements from Washington stir discussion in remote towns and administrative centers alike. The idea meets resistance shaped by history, geography, and political reality. Responses differ, yet share an underlying wariness toward external interest. Some see the remarks as outdated; others view them as disruptive noise. A sense of quiet determination grows amid cold winds and long winters.
TL;DR
Some individuals from Greenland, speaking with The Associated Press, expressed unease over recent talk of the United States seeking to acquire the territory. Uncertainty has spread, stirred by suggestions of purchase or seizure. Independence matters deeply, mentioned several residents. Their cultural identity stands central to how they see themselves. Sovereignty is not seen as negotiable, one person noted. Concerns emerged quietly at first, then grew louder through conversations. External influence brings discomfort, shared another voice. Historical ties matter less than self-determination, stated a common thread among responses.
Unrest grows among Greenlanders of varied origins, disturbed by ongoing statements from American leaders - President Donald Trump included - that hint at U.S. ambitions to take hold of or steer the island's future. Though part of the Danish realm with self-governing powers, it now stands at the center of Washington’s push to deepen its footprint across Arctic affairs.
Stress levels among locals rise as conversations about Greenland’s path grow louder. During talks at the UK legislature, Naaja Nathanielsen - Greenland’s representative for commerce and minerals - shared how unrest has seeped into daily life. Sleep escapes many, young ones worry, such moments dominate existence now, she noted, per coverage by The Associated Press.
Questions arose after President Trump spoke again about wanting control of Greenland. His remarks brought reactions ranging from doubt to disapproval among residents. Strategic importance to the U.S. was his stated reason. References by him to Danish military presence there were minimal, even dismissive - calling it “two dog sleds,” which sparked disagreement. That image did not sit well with people living in Greenland or within American circles.
Not often does one hear a legal scholar speak of icy trails, yet Mari Laursen blends such worlds. Once working on fishing trawlers, now studying law, her voice carries weight. Remarks by Trump about Greenland drew her criticism, seen as overlooking local roles in shared safety efforts. During wartime decades past, Greenland’s hunters guided American units through frozen coasts, spotting enemy movements. That history matters, she noted. Conditions there challenge standard assumptions. Snowbound terrain limits machines. In those stretches, dog-drawn sleds move where trucks stall. Ships cannot reach inland paths. Such methods persist not from lack of technology, but because they work.
Questions have arisen among people living in Greenland regarding distant dangers. Rarely does Lars Vintiner, who works maintaining heating systems, observe boats from other countries near shore. His encounters with anything linked to China happen solely at the quick-meal shop, he mentioned to the Associated Press. From his place along the modest dock in Nuuk, fisher Gerth Josefsen added that visits by overseas vessels remain uncommon; one such instance involved a Russian trawler, spotted roughly a decade past.
Economic reasons might explain American attention, according to certain residents. A young woman from Nuuk, employed at a retail outlet, sees the push as tied to raw materials - crude reserves included. Her view dismisses defense concerns outright. Agreement exists between Copenhagen and local leadership, in her estimation. Still, sovereignty remains a topic among island natives.
Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22 year old student, said she hopes U.S. officials get the message that Greenlanders do not want foreign control. “There are laws and health insurance … we can go to the doctors and nurses … we don’t have to pay anything,” she said. “I don’t want the U.S. to take that away from us.”
In Greenland, government figures shared views held by numerous locals. Spoken through Juno Berthelsen, a lawmaker favoring self-rule, came the message that discussions on the nation’s path must place its inhabitants at the core. Observations pointed to American politicians across party lines expressing discomfort with confrontational tones or talk of armed involvement. Ownership was underlined clearly: "This land is ours," stated he. The phrase carried weight - "Greenland exists for those born to it."
Discussions unfolded in Washington between representatives from Denmark, Greenland, and high-ranking U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Despite dialogue, core differences persist regarding former President Trump’s stance, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Ownership of Greenland stands excluded; such matters rest beyond negotiation. Commitment to national boundaries and self-governance guides Copenhagen and its partners. Views may differ, yet respect for international principles holds steady.
Nowhere is the tension more visible than in Nuuk, where global interest meets local caution. Despite increased scrutiny from abroad, voices across communities stress self-determination. Attention from distant capitals does little to shift core concerns on the ground. What unfolds locally often contrasts sharply with external narratives. Still, outside pressure subtly shapes opportunities. Yet priorities remain rooted in Inuit perspectives. Decisions drawn elsewhere rarely reflect lived realities here made by people of Greenland on their own.
Some individuals from Greenland, speaking with The Associated Press, expressed unease over recent talk of the United States seeking to acquire the territory. Uncertainty has spread, stirred by suggestions of purchase or seizure. Independence matters deeply, mentioned several residents. Their cultural identity stands central to how they see themselves. Sovereignty is not seen as negotiable, one person noted. Concerns emerged quietly at first, then grew louder through conversations. External influence brings discomfort, shared another voice. Historical ties matter less than self-determination, stated a common thread among responses.
Unrest grows among Greenlanders of varied origins, disturbed by ongoing statements from American leaders - President Donald Trump included - that hint at U.S. ambitions to take hold of or steer the island's future. Though part of the Danish realm with self-governing powers, it now stands at the center of Washington’s push to deepen its footprint across Arctic affairs.
Stress levels among locals rise as conversations about Greenland’s path grow louder. During talks at the UK legislature, Naaja Nathanielsen - Greenland’s representative for commerce and minerals - shared how unrest has seeped into daily life. Sleep escapes many, young ones worry, such moments dominate existence now, she noted, per coverage by The Associated Press.
Questions arose after President Trump spoke again about wanting control of Greenland. His remarks brought reactions ranging from doubt to disapproval among residents. Strategic importance to the U.S. was his stated reason. References by him to Danish military presence there were minimal, even dismissive - calling it “two dog sleds,” which sparked disagreement. That image did not sit well with people living in Greenland or within American circles.
Not often does one hear a legal scholar speak of icy trails, yet Mari Laursen blends such worlds. Once working on fishing trawlers, now studying law, her voice carries weight. Remarks by Trump about Greenland drew her criticism, seen as overlooking local roles in shared safety efforts. During wartime decades past, Greenland’s hunters guided American units through frozen coasts, spotting enemy movements. That history matters, she noted. Conditions there challenge standard assumptions. Snowbound terrain limits machines. In those stretches, dog-drawn sleds move where trucks stall. Ships cannot reach inland paths. Such methods persist not from lack of technology, but because they work.
Questions have arisen among people living in Greenland regarding distant dangers. Rarely does Lars Vintiner, who works maintaining heating systems, observe boats from other countries near shore. His encounters with anything linked to China happen solely at the quick-meal shop, he mentioned to the Associated Press. From his place along the modest dock in Nuuk, fisher Gerth Josefsen added that visits by overseas vessels remain uncommon; one such instance involved a Russian trawler, spotted roughly a decade past.
Economic reasons might explain American attention, according to certain residents. A young woman from Nuuk, employed at a retail outlet, sees the push as tied to raw materials - crude reserves included. Her view dismisses defense concerns outright. Agreement exists between Copenhagen and local leadership, in her estimation. Still, sovereignty remains a topic among island natives.
Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22 year old student, said she hopes U.S. officials get the message that Greenlanders do not want foreign control. “There are laws and health insurance … we can go to the doctors and nurses … we don’t have to pay anything,” she said. “I don’t want the U.S. to take that away from us.”
In Greenland, government figures shared views held by numerous locals. Spoken through Juno Berthelsen, a lawmaker favoring self-rule, came the message that discussions on the nation’s path must place its inhabitants at the core. Observations pointed to American politicians across party lines expressing discomfort with confrontational tones or talk of armed involvement. Ownership was underlined clearly: "This land is ours," stated he. The phrase carried weight - "Greenland exists for those born to it."
Discussions unfolded in Washington between representatives from Denmark, Greenland, and high-ranking U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. Despite dialogue, core differences persist regarding former President Trump’s stance, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Ownership of Greenland stands excluded; such matters rest beyond negotiation. Commitment to national boundaries and self-governance guides Copenhagen and its partners. Views may differ, yet respect for international principles holds steady.
Nowhere is the tension more visible than in Nuuk, where global interest meets local caution. Despite increased scrutiny from abroad, voices across communities stress self-determination. Attention from distant capitals does little to shift core concerns on the ground. What unfolds locally often contrasts sharply with external narratives. Still, outside pressure subtly shapes opportunities. Yet priorities remain rooted in Inuit perspectives. Decisions drawn elsewhere rarely reflect lived realities here made by people of Greenland on their own.