Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the newly opened United States consulate in Nuuk on Tuesday, chanting “No means no” in a rare public display of opposition to former President Donald Trump’s repeated attempts to purchase Greenland. The protest, organised by local activist groups, marked the first major demonstration since the consulate’s inauguration last month.
The consulate, which reopened after a 67-year hiatus, has been a focal point for Greenlanders concerned about American political and economic influence. Trump first floated the idea of buying the autonomous Danish territory in 2019, triggering a diplomatic row with Denmark. Despite Biden administration officials distancing themselves from the proposal, many Greenlanders remain suspicious.
Protesters carried placards reading “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off our home” in Greenlandic and English. The crowd, estimated at 500 by local police, was peaceful. No arrests were reported.
“This is our land. We have our own government, our own language, our own culture. We are not a commodity to be traded,” said Aqqalu Pedersen, a 34-year-old fisherman who joined the march. “We welcome cooperation with the US, but not domination.”
The consulate’s restoration is part of a broader US strategy to strengthen its presence in the Arctic, a region of growing strategic importance due to climate change and new shipping routes. Greenland, a self-governing part of Denmark, holds significant mineral and rare earth reserves.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who in 2019 described Trump’s purchase idea as “absurd”, has since lobbied for closer ties with Washington. In a statement Tuesday, she said: “Greenland is not for sale, but Denmark and Greenland are open to cooperation and dialogue with the United States.”
Greenland’s Premier, Múte B. Egede, who has previously rejected the purchase notion, did not issue a statement on the protest. However, his office confirmed that no formal request for a meeting with US officials had been made.
The US State Department declined to comment on the protest, but a consulate spokesperson reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to “partnership with Greenland based on mutual respect and shared interests.”
Analysts suggest that the protest reflects broader unease within Greenland about external interference. “There is a deep-seated nationalism here that is often overlooked in international discourse,” said Dr. Ingrid Larsen, a specialist in Arctic geopolitics at the University of Copenhagen. “The consulate is seen as a symbol of US ambition, even if officials claim otherwise.”
Greenland’s position as a gateway to the Arctic has drawn increasing attention from China and Russia, complicating US efforts to build alliances. The consulate’s reopening is intended to counterbalance these influences. But local sentiment remains divided. “We need investment and infrastructure, but not at the cost of our sovereignty,” said Maria Egede, a shop owner in Nuuk.
As the protest wound down, demonstrators sang a Greenlandic folk song about independence. For many, the message was clear: Greenland’s future will be determined in Nuuk, not Washington.
