January 17, 2026, 2:20 p.mJan 17, 2026, 3:08 p.m
Thousands of people demonstrated at midday in Copenhagen and other Danish cities against US President Donald Trump’s Greenland plans. «The message from Copenhagen is loud and clear. Greenland is not a commodity,” said Mayor Sisse Marie Welling, according to Danish media.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Copenhagen on Saturday.Image: keystone
There are a number of Greenland and Denmark flags waiting to be seen on the town hall square. The huge Arctic island that Trump wants to take over for US security is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. “Greenland is not for sale,” read one of the demonstrators’ signs. In Aarhus, Mayor Anders Winnerskjold told broadcaster DR that Greenland was “not alone”.
Demonstrations against US policy are also planned on the Arctic island itself today. «We demand respect for Greenland’s right to self-determination and respect for the Greenlandic people. This is not just a fight for Greenland, but also for the whole world,” said Poul Johannesen, initiator of the Greenlandic citizens’ initiative “Hands off Kalaallit Nunaat”, when announcing the demonstration in Greenland.
US parliamentarians want to talk to Rubio
Before the start of the Copenhagen demonstration, several US parliamentarians reiterated their support for the resistance against Trump. “Greenland is part of Denmark, and Denmark is a NATO ally,” said Democratic Senator Chris Coons during a press conference in the Danish capital. “In my opinion, this should be the end of this discussion.”
Trump has repeatedly said that the United States wants to take over Greenland, which is largely covered by ice. Trump justifies this with a threat from China and Russia in the region. He recently threatened countries that oppose his plan with punitive tariffs.
Coons described the statements as “not constructive.” The current treatment of Denmark could cause lasting damage to the relationship between the two countries. How can the USA be trusted if NATO ally Denmark is abandoned, asked Coons, representing the state of Delaware. The delegation announced that it would contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The eleven US parliamentarians who traveled to Denmark tried to make it clear that Trump’s plans were also met with resistance in the USA. The group only included two representatives from Trump’s Republican Party. But this is not a sign that the Republicans are completely uninterested in the issue or have already decided on a side, said Republican US Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Exploration mission with Bundeswehr soldiers
Soldiers and other military personnel from European NATO countries around Germany arrived in Greenland on Friday evening. The Bundeswehr team and its allies are on site for an exploratory mission and, according to the Defense Ministry, are supposed to examine conditions for joint military exercises in Berlin – with the aim of ensuring greater security. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands, among others, are sending teams. (hkl/sda/dpa)