Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion of American control over the Arctic island, reinforcing Greenland’s commitment to self-determination.
“We are Greenlanders. We don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be Danish either. Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenland,” Egede declared during a press conference on Tuesday, emphasizing that the territory’s destiny rests solely with its people.
The statement came in response to Trump’s comments on January 20, where he described Greenland as “a wonderful place” of strategic importance, suggesting that Denmark might be willing to part with it due to the financial burden of its maintenance.
Egede acknowledged ongoing Arctic tensions and expressed Greenland’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Washington to address mutual security concerns. “The world’s largest island has cooperated with the U.S. on security issues for more than 80 years,” he noted, while stressing Greenland’s sovereign rights over its resources and future.
Danish officials were quick to join the conversation. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized Trump’s remarks, stating, “We can’t have a world order where big countries help themselves to whatever they want.”
Greenland, rich in untapped minerals and oil, has grown increasingly important as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping routes. However, the island’s economy remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies, which account for 20% of its GDP. Despite Greenland’s autonomy, Denmark still controls its judicial system, foreign policy, and defense.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed the importance of Denmark’s alliance with the U.S., calling it the nation’s most critical partnership since World War II. Meanwhile, Egede urged calm, particularly as Greenland prepares for elections before April 6, where independence is expected to be a central issue.
Frederiksen echoed Egede’s call for composure, writing on Instagram that Europe must “navigate a new reality” under Trump’s presidency.