2 hours ago
Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 19:57 IST
Thousands protested in Copenhagen and Nuuk against Donald Trump’s push to control Greenland, demanding respect for Greenland’s autonomy.
People gather for a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Thousands of protesters gathered in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, on Saturday to oppose US President Donald Trump’s renewed push to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Waving Danish and Greenlandic flags, demonstrators formed a sea of red and white outside Copenhagen City Hall, chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat!"—Greenland’s name in the Greenlandic language. The protests came a day after Trump warned he “may put a tariff" on countries that oppose his plans regarding the mineral-rich Arctic island.
The rallies also coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress, whose members have publicly distanced themselves from the Trump administration’s rhetoric on Greenland.
Protests across Denmark and Greenland
Demonstrations were organised by Greenlandic associations not only in Copenhagen, but also in Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense. A parallel protest was scheduled in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, where demonstrators planned to march to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags.
“The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights," Uagut, an association representing Greenlanders in Denmark, said on its website.
The Copenhagen rally, which began around noon, was also set to stop outside the United States Embassy in Denmark.
‘We demand respect’
Uagut chairwoman Julie Rademacher said recent developments had placed Greenlanders in both Denmark and Greenland under growing pressure.
“When tensions rise and people go into a state of alarm, we risk creating more problems than solutions," she said, calling for unity among Greenlanders on both sides of the Atlantic.
In Nuuk, organisers said the demonstration aimed to show support for Greenland’s political leadership. “We demand respect for our country’s right to self-determination and for us as a people," said organiser Avijaja Rosing-Olsen. Another organiser, Kristian Johansen, described the protests as a stand for international law and legal principles.
Strong opposition to US takeover
Public opinion in Greenland remains firmly against any move to join the United States. According to a poll published in January 2025, 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, while just six percent support the idea.
US lawmakers push back
During meetings in Copenhagen with Danish and Greenlandic leaders, US Democratic Senator Chris Coons rejected claims that Greenland faces an immediate security threat.
“There are no pressing security threats to Greenland," Coons told reporters, responding to comments by Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who had argued that Denmark was too small to defend the territory.
Coons acknowledged, however, that climate change and retreating sea ice were increasing the Arctic’s strategic importance. “There are legitimate reasons to invest more in Arctic security both in the American Arctic and among our NATO partners," he said.
NATO signals resolve
Trump has repeatedly criticised Denmark, a NATO ally, for what he sees as insufficient efforts to secure Greenland, despite the territory being covered by NATO’s collective defence umbrella.
In response to the heightened rhetoric, European NATO members have announced troop deployments to Greenland as part of upcoming military exercises. French armed forces minister Alice Rufo said the drills are meant to demonstrate that allies will “defend their sovereignty."
Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have confirmed they will send small contingents to prepare for future Arctic exercises. Denmark has also invited the United States to take part.
Location :
Copenhagen, Denmark
First Published:
January 17, 2026, 19:57 IST
News world ‘We Demand Respect’: Thousands Protest In Denmark Against Trump’s Push To Take Over Greenland
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