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Trump revives the idea of annexing Greenland, ignoring the will of its inhabitants

Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede: Greenland is not for sale and cannot be ‘simply taken’. Donald Trump continues to threaten Greenland, ignoring the aspirations of the Greenlandic people. In his State of the Union address, the US president reiterates his intention to get it ‘one way or another

Once again, Donald Trump has reignited the debate on one of his geopolitical obsessions: Greenland. During his State of the Union address, Trump revived the idea of ‘getting’ the island, which the president considers essential to the ‘national and international security’ of the United States. His statements, which come at a very sensitive time for the Danish territory, only fuel the tension between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk.

Trump’s claim to obtain Greenland ‘one way or another’ reflects an imperialist approach that does not take into account the will of the local population. With about 57,000 inhabitants, the Greenlanders have clearly expressed themselves through Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede: ‘We want to be neither Americans nor Danes. We are Greenlanders,’ said Egede, emphasising that Greenland is not for sale and cannot be “just taken”.

Trump, however, seems to ignore these positions, continuing to push an agenda that belittles the self-determination of the Greenlandic people. His speech masks with the language of ‘national security’ what appears more like a lust for territorial power and strategic resources. Greenland, with its immense mineral reserves and privileged geographical position for controlling Arctic routes, is a coveted prey.

But what is striking is the arrogance with which Trump seems to believe that the island’s residents are ready to become US citizens, ignoring not only the claims of independence, but also the historical relationship that binds Greenland to Denmark. Although Copenhagen has responded cautiously, trying to emphasise Trump’s words about ‘respect for the right to self-determination’, it cannot be denied that disquiet is growing. Trump seems more focused on the geopolitics of power than on the recognition of national identities.

This umpteenth pressure on Greenland also raises concerns internationally. If Trump’s aggressive rhetoric prevails, it could push Greenland into diplomatic conflict or, worse, threaten the stability of the entire Arctic. Greenland’s future must be decided by its citizens, not by expansionist ambitions reminiscent of a bygone era of imperialism.

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