Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Bourup Egede, has unequivocally dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed proposal to acquire the Arctic territory, emphasizing Greenland’s autonomy and the right of its people to determine their own future.
In a recent address to the U.S. Congress, President Trump reiterated his ambition to annex Greenland, citing national and international security concerns. He stated, “We need Greenland for national security and even international security. I think we are going to get it one way or another.”
Responding to these remarks, Prime Minister Egede asserted, “We are Kalaallit (Greenlanders). The Americans and their leader must understand that. We are not for sale and cannot just be taken. Because our future is decided by us in Greenland.”
Denmark, which maintains sovereignty over Greenland while granting it autonomous governance, also rebuffed Trump’s proposal. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that U.S. annexation “won’t happen.”
This is not the first time President Trump has expressed interest in Greenland. In 2019, during his first term, he proposed purchasing the island, a suggestion that was met with surprise and rejection from both Greenland and Denmark. The recent resurgence of this proposal has once again been firmly dismissed by Greenlandic and Danish officials.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is rich in natural resources and holds strategic importance in the Arctic region. Despite external interest, Greenland’s leadership remains steadfast in preserving the island’s sovereignty and ensuring that any decisions about its future rest solely with its people.
As Greenland approaches its legislative elections, the topic of independence and self-determination continues to be a central issue, reflecting the island’s commitment to maintaining control over its destiny.