Greenland landscape and flag (Photo: Eider Palmou (CC))

A striking majority of the Greenlanders would vote “no” to new American president Donald Trump’s power play to make Greenland the next state of the United States. According to a poll done on behalf of the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenland’s Sermitsiaq a whopping 85% says “no”, 6% is in favour of becoming American and the rest does not know what to choose.

“In the same poll, 45% of Greenlanders say they perceive Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland as a threat, and only 8% would accept a US passport if they had to decide right now whether they wanted Danish or American citizenship,” Berlingske writes here.

The poll confirms the political blast-out, as published also on Nordicreporter.com earlier this month.

Greenland independent of Denmark?

Although Greenland might not become US territory, the debate that Trump stirred up might lead to independency of Greenland from Denmark. Currently, the big island in the Arctic is only semi-independent and is, like the Faroe Islands, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It has now become a hot issue leading up to the parliamentary elections of Greenland’s semi-autonomous 31-member Inatsisartut of 6 April this year. One of the biggest advocates is Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede.

Details of Denmark’s new military investment in Greenland

Meanwhile, Denmark has announced more details about beefing up its military presence on Greenland. The Danes are purchasing three new Arctic patrol vessels, that should have helicopter platforms for extended operations. Moreover, two long-range reconnaissance drones are to be bought, to be augmented by satellite coverage and ground based sensors.

Denmark also wants to give its two operational anti-submarine frigates of the Absalon class a more important role in guarding the Arctic waters, but high-ranker former key officers of the Royal Danish Navy say to Danish Radio that the vessels can only be deployed in summer and parts of spring and autumn, and are not capable of operating in icy or very harsh conditions.

Also, no word yet on how the Danes want to improve the complete radar coverage of Greenland, nor if the civilian airport of Kangerlussuaq will be upgraded to host F-35 fighter jet operations. But even if the F-35s would operate permanently from Greenland – which is not likely at this stage – Denmark would need further support of Canada and the United States to protect key facilities on the island in case of serious Russian or Chinese aggression. | © 2025 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured photo of the Greenland flag and landscape by Eider Palmou (CC)