Greenland reignites push for INDEPENDENCE amid Trump's renewed interest in purchasing the territory from Denmark
- Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede has reignited calls for independence from Denmark, framing it as a move to shed colonial legacies and assert sovereignty.
- This call comes after President-elect Donald Trump renewed his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark, a proposal firmly rejected by Greenlandic and Danish officials alike.
- Greenland's strategic value to the United States is growing due to its position in the Arctic, its abundance of natural resources and the opening of new strategic frontiers closer to the Arctic circle.
- To strengthen its hold on Greenland, Denmark has announced a new $1.5 billion defense package to bolster its presence in the Arctic.
- Greenlandic independence remains a difficult proposal due to the region's heavy reliance on Danish subsidies and fishing for its economy, and the likelihood that independence will cause a drop in quality of life for its citizens.
Greenlandic Prime Mute Egede has reignited his government's calls
for independence from Denmark amid President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in purchasing the region from Copenhagen.
Egede framed independence from Denmark as a necessary step to shed the "shacles of the colonial era" and assert the island’s sovereignty.
The renewed push comes in the wake of Trump's repeated interest in purchasing the Arctic territory, a proposal that has been firmly rejected by both Greenlandic and Danish officials.
In his New Year's address to the region's 57,000 residents, Egede emphasized the need for Greenland to chart its own course, signaling his desire to enact an independence referendum, and highlighting the island's growing need to assert itself amid its growing strategic importance in a rapidly changing Arctic.
Greenland, the world's largest island, has been an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark since 1979. While it manages its internal affairs, Denmark retains control over foreign and defense policies. The island has the legal right to declare independence, but economic concerns loom large. Greenland’s economy relies heavily on fishing and annual grants from Denmark, which account for about two-thirds of its budget.
Support for independence is highly contingent on Greenlanders being able to maintain their quality of life. Polls consistently show that most Greenlanders favor full independence from Copenhagen – however, a 2017 poll showed that 78 percent were opposed to independence if it meant a decline in living standards.
Egede's speech underscored the urgency of addressing these challenges. "Our cooperation with other countries and our trade relations
cannot continue to take place solely through Denmark," he said. "Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state."
Trump wants to take control of Greenland for the sake of national security
The timing of Egede's remarks is significant, coming shortly after Trump’s Dec. 22 post on Truth Social, in which he declared that "
for purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the U.S. feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."
This is not the first time Trump has expressed interest in purchasing the island. During his first term, he referred to the potential acquisition as "a large real estate deal," drawing swift rebukes from Greenlandic and Danish leaders.
In response to
Trump's renewed interest, Denmark announced plans to bolster its military presence in Greenland and the broader Arctic region. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Troels Lund Poulsen announced a $1.5 billion defense package aimed at enhancing surveillance and security to the autonomous region. This package includes the deployment of additional patrol vessels, long-range drones and other military personnel to Greenland.
"We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years; now we are planning a stronger presence," Poulsen said.
Greenland's strategic value has grown in recent years due to its abundant natural resources, including rare earth minerals, and its pivotal location in the Arctic. Nations surrounding the Arctic,
including adversarial nations like Russia, are exploring the opening of new shipping routes and resource extraction points in the Arctic region, making global powers including the U.S. and China take notice. (Related:
U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercept Russian and Chinese bomber aircraft near Alaska.)
Upcoming Greenland elections could pave the way for independence
"In the coming summer, it will now be possible to reach us directly from other countries, without first traveling via Denmark," Egede said. "This will allow us to develop and govern our country more independently."
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Greenland, scheduled to be held on or before April 6, 2025, are expected to play a crucial role in determining the island’s future. Egede has framed the election period as an opportunity to take “major steps” toward independence, urging citizens to engage in shaping the island’s trajectory.
Greenland's journey toward self-determination is also rooted in its colonial history. The island was a Danish colony until 1953
and achieved self-governance in 1979. In 2009, it gained the right to declare independence through a vote.
"The history and current conditions have shown that our cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark has not succeeded in creating full equality,” Egede said. “It is now time for our country
to take the next step."
Watch this episode of "The American Journal" on
InfoWars discussing
President-elect Donald Trump's offer to buy Greenland from Denmark.
This video is from the
TNTVNews channel on Brighteon.com.
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Sources include:
RT.com
TheHill.com
Reuters.com
Brighteon.com