Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede has declared that independence from Denmark is “necessary,” following comments by US President-elect Donald Trump advocating for the United States to purchase the territory.
"The upcoming new election period must, together with the citizens, create these new steps, based on the foundations that have already been created," Egede said. "It is about time that we ourselves take a step and shape our future, also with regard to who we will cooperate closely with, and who our trading partners will be."
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 and now operates as a self-governing territory of Denmark. In 2009, it achieved the right to claim independence through a vote, and in 2023, its government presented its first draft constitution, per Reuters.
Egede’s calls for Greenland independence come after a post by Trump on Truth Social in which he expressed the US’s strategic interest in Greenland. Announcing his choice for the US ambassador to Denmark in December, Trump wrote, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Egede responded by emphasizing Greenland’s autonomy in a written statement that said, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
This is not the first time Trump has floated the idea of purchasing Greenland. During his first term, his administration explored the possibility, citing its strategic value. However, the notion of the US acquiring Greenland goes beyond Trump. A Fox News report noted that in 1867, the State Department considered buying Greenland and Iceland due to their geographic significance. After World War II, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, an offer that was rejected.
