A surprising diplomatic shift is unfolding in the Arctic as renewed interest from former U.S. President Donald Trump in acquiring Greenland has led to increased cooperation between Greenlandic and Danish officials.Despite a history marked by colonial grievances and greenland’s ongoing pursuit of independence, the two nations are presenting a unified front against external pressure, highlighting the region’s growing strategic importance amid grate power competition. This progress comes as Trump continues to cite countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic as justification for a potential acquisition-a proposal overwhelmingly opposed by the Greenlandic population.
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A renewed push by former U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland has unexpectedly brought Greenlandic and Danish officials closer together, setting aside longstanding tensions over colonial history and Greenland’s aspirations for independence. The development highlights the strategic importance of the Arctic region amid increasing global competition.
Ulrik Bram Gad, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, explained that “Greenlanders still harbor many grievances against Denmark, blaming them for not fully addressing their colonial past” on the island.
However, Gad added, “Trump’s pressure led the vast majority of the political forces forming Greenland’s government to put their work on independence – always a long-term project – on the back burner.”
While Greenland’s major political parties have long advocated for independence, differing visions for achieving it previously hindered progress. Trump’s overtures prompted the formation of a coalition government in March.
Notably excluded from this coalition is the Naleeraq party, which continues to call for a swift path to independence.
According to Gad, European support in countering Trump’s ambitions facilitated the decision to pause the independence debate, as the relationship with Denmark appears less fraught with pressure in light of European solidarity.
During the height of tensions created by Trump, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen stated that, if forced to choose, his government would side with Denmark over the United States.
Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to acquire the Arctic island, which enjoys self-governance under Danish sovereignty, since returning to office last year. He has framed the potential acquisition as a means of countering perceived advances by Russia and China in the Arctic region.
— A Colonial Past —
Faced with a united European front, Trump scaled back his threats and announced a preliminary agreement – details of which remain undisclosed – discussed with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Denmark has emphasized that any decision on the matter ultimately rests with both Denmark and Greenland.
In recent weeks, the two nations have presented a unified voice in all diplomatic engagements.
On January 14, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
On January 19, Motzfeldt was in Brussels with Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen for a meeting with Mark Rutte.
However, this newfound unity masks the lingering effects of Greenland’s colonial history with Denmark, a relationship that continues to shape the island’s identity and political landscape.
Greenland became a Danish colony in the early 18th century, and in 1953, it was integrated as a Danish county, becoming an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. This period was followed by a policy of forced assimilation.
Greenland gained home rule in 1979, which was further expanded in 2009.
Astrid Andersen, a researcher specializing in Danish-Greenlandic relations, stated, “It’s a long history, with several phases. Every colonial relationship is a relationship of domination and involves injustice.”
— Forced Sterilization —
That colonial past is laden with difficult legacies.
In 1951, Denmark attempted to create a Danish-speaking elite by separating 22 children from their families and prohibiting them from speaking their native language. In 2021, the six surviving children received compensation amounting to approximately $40.
Throughout the 1960s and for three decades thereafter, Denmark pursued policies aimed at reducing the birth rate in Greenland, resulting in thousands of women and teenagers undergoing forced sterilization. Danish authorities have recently issued an apology for these actions, and victims are now eligible to seek compensation.
Greenlanders also bear the weight of past colonial practices where Danish authorities assessed the psychological capacity of Greenlandic mothers to parent, sometimes leading to the removal of children from their care.
However, Andersen noted that these issues are no longer the primary focus.
“The current common adversary is Trump, and we must face this together,” she said.
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