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Hundreds protest US expansion in Greenland
Residents of Nuuk demonstrated outside a newly inaugurated American consulate on Friday, voicing opposition to Donald Trump's push for greater control over the autonomous Danish territory.
Diplomatic tensions escalate
The protest followed a visit by Jeff Landry, Trump's special envoy to Greenland and Louisiana's governor, who arrived without an official invitation amid ongoing negotiations over US military presence. Landry met with Greenlandic officials and business leaders during his three-day trip but faced criticism for bypassing diplomatic protocols.
Protest organizer Aqqalukkuluk Fontain, 37, told the BBC, "Our government already told Donald Trump and his administration that Greenland is not for sale." Demonstrators marched through Nuuk's center chanting "Greenland is for Greenlanders" before turning their backs to the consulate in silent protest.
Consulate inauguration sparks controversy
The new 3,000-square-meter consulate, dubbed "Trump Towers" by locals, occupies a prominent downtown location. Its opening ceremony featured a ukulele performance of the US national anthem and remarks by Kenneth Howery, the US ambassador to Denmark, who emphasized partnership but avoided addressing sovereignty concerns.
Greenlandic leaders largely boycotted the event. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen skipped the ceremony, and Naaja Nathanielsen, a Greenlandic MP in Denmark's parliament, declined her invitation, stating, "Right now, it's about sending signals."
US seeks military foothold
Trump has repeatedly cited Greenland's strategic importance for national security, reviving Cold War-era ambitions. A US Northern Command spokesperson confirmed plans to upgrade infrastructure at Pituffik Space Base and explore additional sites like Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq.
A New York Times report this week revealed US demands for indefinite troop presence and veto power over foreign investments-a proposal Greenlandic officials reportedly view as a threat to sovereignty. A working group is attempting to resolve the dispute, though no agreement has been reached.
"There is only one line for us. It is red, white and blue."
Jeff Landry, US Special Envoy to Greenland
Local skepticism grows
Protesters questioned the necessity of a US consulate. Inge Bisgaard, a demonstrator, told the BBC, "It's so important to show this is not okay." Another participant, Parnuna Olsen, 25, asked why the US needed a diplomatic presence in Greenland at all.
Landry's comments in a local interview further fueled concerns. When asked if Trump would respect Greenland's sovereignty, he replied, "I think Greenland could have an equally good or even better economy as an independent country." The White House later called Landry "a strong asset" but declined to comment on his meeting with Trump.
Next steps
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to discuss Arctic security at a NATO summit in Sweden on Friday. Meanwhile, Greenland's government has suggested progress in negotiations, though details remain undisclosed.
