Nuuk: Greenland’s parliament will bring forward an upcoming meeting to discuss growing concerns after renewed remarks by the United States president about taking control of the Arctic island, Greenlandic political leaders said on Friday.
All major parties in Greenland agreed that the Inatsisartut should meet earlier than planned to form a united response to statements from Donald Trump, who has said the United States needs to own Greenland to counter the influence of Russia and China in the Arctic region.
In a joint statement, Greenland’s party leaders stressed that the island’s future must be decided by its own people. They said Greenlanders do not want to become Americans or Danes, but want to remain Greenlanders, underlining their demand for respect for sovereignty and self determination.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is responsible for defence and foreign policy. Denmark has also rejected any suggestion that Greenland could be taken over or controlled by another country without consent.
The renewed debate follows comments by Trump in recent days in which he repeated his long standing view that Greenland is strategically vital for US security. He argued that ownership of the island would help deter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, an area becoming increasingly important due to melting ice and access to new shipping routes and resources.
Greenlandic leaders said the language used by Washington had caused unease among the population and risked damaging relations between allies. They called for dialogue based on international law and mutual respect rather than pressure or threats.
The United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland under a defence agreement signed in 1951, including the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance. Analysts note that existing cooperation allows Washington to protect its strategic interests without challenging Greenland’s political status.
Reactions from Europe have also been firm. Several European leaders have said that any attempt to change Greenland’s status by force would be unacceptable and harmful to unity within NATO.
As the parliament prepares to meet, Greenland’s government is expected to focus on reaffirming sovereignty, calming public concern, and coordinating closely with Denmark and international partners. The issue has also strengthened calls within Greenland for a clearer long term path toward greater independence, even as leaders stress that any such decision must come from the people themselves.