Sisimiut is Greenland’s second largest colony.image: wikimedia
Jan 6, 2026, 6:16 p.mJan 6, 2026, 6:16 p.m
Where is Greenland located?
Greenland is the largest island in the world that is not itself a continent (like Australia).Image: Shutterstock
Greenland lies in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Canada. With over 2 million square kilometers, Greenland is the largest island in the world and over 52 times the size of Switzerland.
How many inhabitants does Greenland have?
Greenlandic woman in Sisimiut. Image: Shutterstock
Around 56,000 people currently live on the harsh island, which is four-fifths covered with ice. 80 percent of them are native Inuit.
With 20,000 inhabitants, Nuuk is the largest city in the country, Sisimiut is the second largest with 5,500. Like almost all other notable settlements, they are located on the southwest side of the island. It can get over 20 degrees here in the summer months of June, July, August and September.
How does Greenland “belong” to Denmark?
Our problem with understanding Greenland’s status begins with the imprecise name “Denmark”. In everyday language we use it for both the country and the kingdom. These are two different things.
Greenland is its own country with its own government and parliament. It has had extensive autonomy and self-government since a referendum in 1979 and has its own national flag and national anthem. Together with the other countries Denmark and the Faroe Islands, Greenland forms the sovereign unitary state Kingdom of Denmark (United Kingdom of Denmark).
Who rules the Kingdom of Denmark?
King Frederik and his Queen Mary, daughter of Scottish emigrants to Australia.Image: keystone
The head of state in this constitutional monarchy is the Danish King Frederik 10th, who, among other things, has a master’s degree in political science and is often photographed on his bicycle.
What significance does the Kingdom of Denmark have if the individual countries are autonomous?
The kingdom has a basic law that is not very specifically formulated and has relatively few paragraphs. However, the three countries Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland still share many tasks in foreign and security policy. King Frederik is commander in chief of the Danish armed forces – and that’s not just for show. He taught as a lecturer at the Institute of Strategy at the Danish Military Academy. He also rose to the rank of Rear Admiral of the Navy and Major General of the Army and Air Force. The defense of Greenland falls under the mandate of the Danish armed forces – Greenland itself has no troops of its own.
In fact, the situation looks somewhat different. Denmark was overrun by Germany during World War II and quickly surrendered (1940). Therefore, in 1941, US forces, armed with contracts from the Danish ambassador, took over the protection of Greenland. During the Second World War, the USA built various military bases on the island. In 1951 the USA and Denmark renewed their treaties. The USA was primarily responsible for protecting the airspace. The coast guard was organized by Denmark.
Does the US still operate bases in Greenland?
Pituffik Space Base in 2023.Image: keystone
After the end of the Cold War, the USA withdrew completely from Greenland by 2004, leaving behind rusting military equipment. Completely? Not quite. The former Thule military airfield in the northwest remained in American hands. It is now called Pituffik Space Base. In 2025, Vice President JD Vance visited him with his wife. While he was there, he directed criticism towards Denmark. The Greenlanders deserve better. He also stated that the USA had to take control of Greenland for security reasons.
Colonel Susannah Meyers, the commander in charge of the base, responded with an email to all base employees: “I do not presume to understand current policy, but I know that the U.S. government’s concerns raised by Vice President Vance on Friday do not apply to the Pituffik Space Base.” Meyers was then fired.
Meyers (l.) explains, Usha and JD Vance are listening. Then came the dismissal.Image: keystone
Is Greenland part of the EU?
Of course, this relationship is not quite that simple either. Greenland, like the Faroe Islands, is not a member state of the EU. However, it is one of the “Overseas Countries and Territories” (OCT), which entails certain rights and obligations.
Is Greenland part of NATO?
Yes.
Exercise by European NATO countries in September 2025 in front of Nuuk.Image: keystone
Who governs Greenland?
The man who combines three typical Danish names: Jens Frederik Nielsen.Image: keystone
Greenland is a democracy. The current head of government is Jens Frederik Nielsen from the social-liberal party Demokraatit. He is a gifted badminton player and the youngest head of government in Greenland. His party has long advocated remaining in the Kingdom of Denmark. Meanwhile, Demokraatit has also changed course and wants to achieve sovereignty in Greenland in the longer term. This will happen as soon as economic and social conditions allow it.
Does Greenland have its own football team?
The question seems random, but it is interesting in the context of the political circumstances that are unfamiliar to Swiss people. The answer is “yes”. Greenland has its own national football team. The Kalaallit Arsaattartut Kattuffiat (KAK) association is very successful: a tenth of all Greenlanders are members. However, the KAK is not a FIFA or UEFA member. This is in contrast to the Danish and Faroese football associations. In 2024, the attempt to join the North American association CONCACAF failed. CONCACAF members unanimously rejected Greenland.
Why is Greenland so important to the USA?
Greenland has a lot to offer: oil, gas, mineral resources. Thanks to climate change and melting ice, these will be more accessible in the future. Due to its location, the island is also of enormous military-strategic importance.
The GIUK gap can be better controlled from Greenland. This refers to the section of sea between Greenland (G), Iceland (I) and Great Britain (UK). Greenland also offers the possibility of radar bases against Russian missiles and plays an important role in the surveillance and control of satellites.
Is this the first time the US wants to take over Greenland?
No. Such attempts have been carried out repeatedly since 1951. Sometimes quiet, sometimes less quiet.
What do the people of Greenland want?
Young Greenlandic woman with guard.Image: Shutterstock
Surveys show that the Greenlanders want complete independence in the long term and thus exit from the Kingdom of Denmark. But that also means that they don’t want to join the USA. Representative surveys show that around 85 percent of the population would reject this.
Will the US take over Greenland militarily? Presidential adviser Stephen Miller evades
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger