Thousands rally across Denmark to defend Greenland’s autonomy amid Trump threats

Denmark rallies to defend Greenland’s autonomy

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Denmark on Saturday to show solidarity with Greenland, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to annex the Arctic territory and calling on the United States to respect Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.

Trump has repeatedly emphasised that Greenland is “vital” to U.S. security due to its strategic location and rich mineral resources, and he has not ruled out using force to secure the island. In response, several European nations deployed military personnel to Greenland this week at Denmark’s request.

In Copenhagen, protesters gathered at City Hall Square waving Greenland’s red-and-white “Erfalasorput” flag and holding banners that read slogans such as “Hands off Greenland” and “Greenland is not for sale,” before marching toward the U.S. embassy.

“I am very grateful for the huge support we as Greenlanders receive ... we are also sending a message to the world that you all must wake up,” 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,” she added.

Reuters video footage showed thousands of protesters. Spokespersons for organisers and police declined to provide a crowd estimate.

Protests were also ongoing in other locations across Denmark and are scheduled to take place in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, later on Saturday.

Trump's repeated statements about the island have triggered an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the United States and Denmark, both founding members of the NATO military alliance, and have been widely condemned in Europe.

The Greenland territory of 57,000 people, governed for centuries from Copenhagen, has carved out significant autonomy since 1979 but remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark which controls defence and foreign policy, and funds much of its administration.

All five political parties elected to Greenland's parliament ultimately favour independence, but they disagree on the timeline of such a move and have in recent days said they would rather remain part of Denmark than join the United States.

The protests in Denmark were organised by Greenlandic groups in cooperation with ActionAid Denmark, an NGO.

"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.

Some 17,000 Greenlanders live in Denmark, according to Danish authorities.

Just 17% of Americans approve of President Donald Trump's efforts to acquire Greenland, and large majorities of Democrats and Republicans oppose using military force to annex the island, a found. Trump "fake".