Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to show solidarity with Greenland and reject repeated threats by United States President Donald Trump to take control of the self-governing Danish territory.
In Copenhagen, demonstrators waving Danish and Greenlandic flags formed a sea of red and white outside city hall, chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat” – Greenland’s name in its native language. Similar rallies were held in Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense, as well as in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut, an organisation representing Greenlanders in Denmark, said the protests were both a show of support and a call for global awareness. “Greenland and the Greenlanders have involuntarily become the front in the fight for democracy and human rights,” she stated.
The demonstrations follow Trump’s announcement that 10 percent tariffs would be imposed on several European allies opposing US control of Greenland starting February 1, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Trump warned that tariffs would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in place until an agreement is reached for the US to acquire Greenland.
Both Denmark and Greenland have rejected the notion of the island being “owned” by the US. A recent meeting in Washington, DC, between the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland failed to change the American position. “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
According to a poll published in January 2025, 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose joining the US, while only 6 percent support it. Al Jazeera correspondent Rory Challands, reporting from Nuuk, said Saturday’s rally was expected to be large, with participation from both Danes and Greenlanders. “Everyone here believes that at some point, there should be some form of independence for Greenland. But for the moment, Denmark and Greenland are saying their best way out of this crisis is to remain united,” he added.
The protests have also gained attention in the US, where some lawmakers—including Republicans—have opposed Trump’s push, citing risks to global stability and NATO commitments. A bipartisan congressional delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, visited Denmark on Friday, asserting that Greenland’s security does not justify US claims. “Greenland is a part of Denmark. Denmark is our NATO ally. That should be the end of this discussion,” Coons said.
In response to the escalating tensions, European NATO members, including France, Britain, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, are deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland for exercises aimed at demonstrating their commitment to defending the territory’s sovereignty.
The rallies and international response underscore widespread opposition to US attempts to assert control over Greenland, while reaffirming the close ties between Denmark and its autonomous territory in the Arctic.
