Hundreds of Greenland residents gathered Friday in the capital Nuuk to protest against US President Donald Trump’s ambition to expand American influence over the island.
The protest took place outside the new US consulate, at the end of a week during which Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, made his first visit to the partially autonomous Danish territory.
Protest organizer Aqqalukkuluk Fontain said Greenland’s authorities have already made it clear to the US administration that the island “is not for sale.”
“Our government has already told Donald Trump and his administration that Greenland is not for sale,” he stated.
The opening of the new American consulate and Landry’s visit come amid efforts to ease diplomatic tensions following Trump’s repeated remarks about taking control of the island for national security reasons.
During the march through the city center, protesters chanted: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.”
“Our message is for the American people and the rest of the world,” Fontain told BBC. “In a democratic world, no means no.”
Another protester, Inge Bisgaard, said Landry’s visit was perceived as disrespectful toward the people of Greenland.
“It is very important to show that this is not okay,” she told the BBC.
She added that many citizens feel deeply concerned by Trump’s continued comments regarding Greenland.
“We are afraid of the United States. People had just started recovering from the last time in January, and then it all started again,” Bisgaard said, referring to Trump’s statements about wanting to “own” Greenland.
