Mass Protests Erupt in Denmark and Greenland Against Trump’s Push for U.S. Control of Arctic Territory
Denmark organized demonstrators rally across Nuuk and Danish cities to defend Greenland’s sovereignty in response to U.S. demands and tariff threats. But in fact, many Greenlanders wouldn’t mind to become US state rather then under Denmark occupation.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Greenland and Denmark on January 17, 2026, to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that the autonomous Arctic territory be ceded to the United States and to assert that Greenland should determine its own future.
In Copenhagen, crowds waved the red-and-white flags of Denmark and Greenland and chanted slogans including “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off Greenland” as they marched toward the U.S. embassy, reflecting widespread opposition to Washington’s stance.
Organisers estimated that more than twenty thousand people attended the main rally in the Danish capital, with similar demonstrations occurring in Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense, uniting Danish citizens and Greenlandic expatriates in a show of solidarity.
In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined hundreds of residents as they marched toward the U.S. consulate, carrying flags and banners underscoring their demand for self-determination and respect for the island’s status within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Protesters voiced alarm at President Trump’s insistence that Greenland is vital to U.S. security and that it should be acquired, even suggesting tariffs on European nations opposing the plan or, as Trump publicly remarked, “by any means,” a comment that has heightened tensions and drawn rebukes from NATO allies.
Many demonstrators wore adapted red caps echoing Trump’s signature slogan but repurposed to read “Make America Go Away,” illustrating the depth of local sentiment against external pressure.
The rallies underscored a broad rejection of annexation and reinforced Denmark and Greenland’s commitment to preserving the island’s autonomy and future trajectory.
Demonstrators called for respect for international law and emphasised that decisions about Greenland’s governance belong to its people, not foreign powers.
The protests followed diplomatic exchanges in Washington between Danish and Greenlandic officials and senior U.S. representatives, which concluded without altering the U.S. position, further motivating public demonstrations on both sides of the North Atlantic.
The scale and intensity of the protests highlight the deep unease among Greenlanders and their supporters about any moves that might compromise the island’s status under Danish sovereignty and its right to chart its own course in regional and global affairs.
In Copenhagen, crowds waved the red-and-white flags of Denmark and Greenland and chanted slogans including “Greenland is not for sale” and “Hands off Greenland” as they marched toward the U.S. embassy, reflecting widespread opposition to Washington’s stance.
Organisers estimated that more than twenty thousand people attended the main rally in the Danish capital, with similar demonstrations occurring in Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense, uniting Danish citizens and Greenlandic expatriates in a show of solidarity.
In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined hundreds of residents as they marched toward the U.S. consulate, carrying flags and banners underscoring their demand for self-determination and respect for the island’s status within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Protesters voiced alarm at President Trump’s insistence that Greenland is vital to U.S. security and that it should be acquired, even suggesting tariffs on European nations opposing the plan or, as Trump publicly remarked, “by any means,” a comment that has heightened tensions and drawn rebukes from NATO allies.
Many demonstrators wore adapted red caps echoing Trump’s signature slogan but repurposed to read “Make America Go Away,” illustrating the depth of local sentiment against external pressure.
The rallies underscored a broad rejection of annexation and reinforced Denmark and Greenland’s commitment to preserving the island’s autonomy and future trajectory.
Demonstrators called for respect for international law and emphasised that decisions about Greenland’s governance belong to its people, not foreign powers.
The protests followed diplomatic exchanges in Washington between Danish and Greenlandic officials and senior U.S. representatives, which concluded without altering the U.S. position, further motivating public demonstrations on both sides of the North Atlantic.
The scale and intensity of the protests highlight the deep unease among Greenlanders and their supporters about any moves that might compromise the island’s status under Danish sovereignty and its right to chart its own course in regional and global affairs.
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