European Central: Greenland Stakes A Claim For Its Independence As Interest Abounds Abroad

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In early February 2025, Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, announced that the Arctic territory would host a general election on March 11. The upcoming election campaign is likely to focus on Greenland’s pursuit of independence from Denmark, the growth of its shaky economy, and its relations with both Denmark and the United States. ‘We are in the midst of a serious time. A time that we have never experienced in our country. This is not the time for internal division,’ Egede said in a social media post. Greenland’s parliament, the Inatsisartut, later approved the general election proposal in a unanimous vote.

Greenland has been under Danish rule for centuries. In recent decades, however, it has gained greater autonomy. In 1979, Denmark granted Greenland home rule. In 2009, additional powers of self-governance were transferred to the island. This includes the right to declare independence from Denmark, although Copenhagen retains responsibility for the island’s foreign policy and security.

A majority of Greenlanders would vote for independence in a hypothetical referendum, according to a recent poll conducted by Verian and commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq. Only 28% of Greenlanders would vote to remain part of Denmark. This support for independence is in part driven by the country’s abundant untapped mineral resources, which could potentially generate significant wealth for Greenlanders. However, Greenland’s economy, which is highly dependent on fishing, is still heavily subsidized by the Danish government. This makes independence a precarious prospect. As such, the poll found that 45% of Greenlanders would not support independence if ‘the standard of living was negatively affected, highlighting that the future path towards it remains unclear.’

Moreover, Denmark’s king, Frederik X, remains popular in Greenland. He has spent a significant amount of time on the island, including a four-month trek on the ice sheet. In December, the Danish royal palace modified its coat of arms, enlarging a polar bear that represents Greenland.

There is, however, a broader international context surrounding this debate over independence. Namely, the increased interest of U.S. President Donald Trump in acquiring Greenland. In December 2024, Trump restated his desire to control the strategically crucial Arctic island, and did not reject using military or economic means to accomplish this task.

Speaking on board Air Force One, Trump said of Greenland: ‘I think we’re going to have it,’ and claimed that the island’s inhabitants ‘want to be with us.’ According to a recent poll, however, some 85% of Greenlanders do not support their island home becoming a part of the United States. Only 6% of Greenlanders are in favor of Trump’s proposal, with the remaining 9% undecided.

In response to Trump’s comments, Prime Minister Egede, a supporter of independence, insisted that ‘The Greenlandic people don’t want to be Danes. The Greenlandic people don’t want to be Americans.’ While Egede has welcomed a ‘strong partnership with both the EU and U.S. and expressed openness for increased European and American investment in the island’s mining sector,’ he has nevertheless asserted that ‘Greenland is not for sale.’

For Egede, ‘Greenlanders would choose independence if given the chance to vote in a referendum — and the decision should be left in their hands.’ ‘The future of Greenland will be decided by the Greenlandic people,’ he said. If the people of Greenland decide to declare independence from Denmark, Greenland would want to remain a NATO member state and have a strong security partnership with both Europe and the United States. ‘It’s important to see that if Greenland takes those steps we’ll always be a part of the Western alliance and a strong partner for [the] U.S.,’ Egede said.

Denmark has stood by its island territory, supporting both its right to seek independence on its own terms and its separation from the United States’ sphere of influence. ‘We fully recognise that Greenland has its own ambitions. If they materialise, Greenland will become independent, though hardly with an ambition to become a federal state in the United States,’ said Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. However, he told journalists that the United States’ increased security concerns in the Arctic were legitimate due to greater Chinese and Russian interest in the region. ‘I don't think that we’re in a foreign policy crisis,’ Rasmussen said. ‘We are open to a dialogue with the Americans on how we can possibly cooperate even more closely than we do to ensure that the American ambitions are fulfilled.’

Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, concurred with her chief diplomat. According to a press release from her office following a phone call with President Trump on January 15, she reiterated to the American leader Egede’s affirmation that Greenland is not for sale. However, in an interview with journalists after the phone call with Trump, she ‘confirmed’ that ‘there is [still] great American interest in Greenland.’ The phone call between Frederiksen and Trump did not resolve the issue, with both leaders agreeing to continue their discussion at a later date.

While the United States’ interest in acquiring Greenland has complicated discussions concerning the island territory’s independence and future status, most parties involved have agreed that any decision over Greenland’s path forward belongs to the people who call the island their home. If Greenlanders choose to take a risk and declare independence via referendum, the way ahead could involve a lengthy and complex process of establishing new institutions and governing structures, creating an economic system that is stable and works for the people of Greenland, and achieving international recognition. Crucially, Greenland would need to address challenges related to resource extraction and management, as well as enter into treaties with more powerful nations and intergovernmental bodies to ensure its security in a highly contested region. However, should the decision be made, it would mark a significant moment in Greenland’s history, as the people of the Arctic island would determine their own future and sovereignty.