Greenland: Hundreds protest against Trump's takeover plans

Hundreds of Greenlanders took to the streets on Saturday to protest against US President Donald Trump's stated goal of taking control of their island.

Video footage showed crowds gathered in the capital, Nuuk, waving Greenland's flag and holding signs with messages such as "Respect Greenland's sovereignty," "We are not for sale" and "Make America Go Away" — a play on Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again."

Rallies were also taking place in other towns on the island.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the center-right Demokraatit party that won this week's parliamentary election, was joined by outgoing Prime Minister Mute B. Egede to lead protesters toward the US consulate on Nuuk's outskirts.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen (in the blue jacket) and Mute B. Egede (first row, center) led the march to the US consulateImage: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/REUTERS

"We want to be ourselves, and our autonomy and freedom will never be put up for debate," Nielsen told the Danish Broadcasting Corporation during the rally.

"There is not the slightest chance that I will talk to Trump about Greenland becoming part of the US. Greenland will be Greenland," he said.

Speaking to Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Saturday, Egede called the US president's approach "completely unacceptable."

The protesters gathered outside the US consulate in NuukImage: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/REUTERS

What has Trump said about Greenland?

Over the past few months, Trump has repeatedly voiced his interest in taking control of Greenland.

The US president raised the idea again on Thursday during a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the White House.

When asked by a reporter about a possible annexation, Trump said: "I think it will happen." 

He went on to say that the territory was fundamental to US national security, stressing that the US already has military bases there.

Donald Trump told Mark Rutte during a meeting at the White House he believed the US needs to have GreenlandImage: AP/picture alliance

The strategically important Arctic island is home to just 57,000 inhabitants and is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

What has Greenland's response been?

Lawmakers in Greenland have vehemently opposed Trump's plans to make the island part of the US.

On Friday, the leaders of the five parties in Greenland's parliament issued a joint statement rejecting Trump's comments.

"We — all party chairmen — cannot accept the repeated statements on annexation and control of Greenland," they said. "We, as party chairmen, find this conduct unacceptable to friends and allies in a defense alliance."

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah