People of Greenland held a demonstration, opposing U.S President Donald Trump’s ambition to take over the island, as the United States opened a larger consulate on Thursday. Local leaders also expressed their disapproval of Trump by distancing themselves from the event.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielson and several other politicians said they had declined invitations to attend the opening of the new downtown office, which had moved from a wooden cabin on the outskirts of Nuuk.
Nielson told local newspaper Sermitsiaq, “We haven’t made a decision in principle, but I won’t participate.”
Many citizens gathered outside the consulate, carrying the semi-autonomous island’s flag and anti-U.S posters which said “USA, stop it!”, while chanting “No means no” and “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”. One protestor held a sign that read “Yes NATO, No Pedo” with a photo of Trump and deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump received criticism from NATO allies in Europe after he made repeated comments on wanting to take over control of Greenland due to its strategic location and mineral resources. He also hinted at a potential use of the U.S military, sparking domestic and international backlash.
Greenland’s government said on Monday that it was making progress in talks over the future of the region amid threats of a U.S invasion. It continues to assert that the Arctic island belongs to its people and will never be for sale.
According to Greenlandic public broadcaster KNR, U.S Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery said in his speech at the opening, “We will always be neighbours and stand by you, whatever future you decide for yourselves, as your allies and partners.”
Trump said the island, with a population of 57,000 people, was strategically important for countering Russia and China in the Arctic. The United States currently has one active military base in Greenland, a significant contrast from 17 facilities back in 1945.
