Greenland Prime Minister Calls For Independence As Trump Presidency Approaches

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Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede called for the country’s independence from Denmark during his New Year’s speech.

“The Greenlandic people’s opportunity for independence has been adopted through the provisions of the Self-Government Act, thereby creating a legal basis for how independence can be achieved,” Egede said, according to The Hill.

“A draft constitution for our country has also been prepared,” he added.

Egede’s comments follow President Trump hinting at purchasing Greenland.

President Trump Says US “ownership and control of Greenland is absolute necessity”

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said.

The Hill reports:

The leader said a new development for Greenland is “imminent” days after Trump took a second pass at purchasing the land, which sits in the prominent Arctic region.

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said in a Dec. 22 Truth Social post.

Egede hit back in a statement, declaring Greenland was not for sale and would undertake every effort to not be acquired by the U.S.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Egede said.

“It is now time to take the next step for our country,” Egede said.

“Like other countries in the world, we must work to remove the obstacles to cooperation, which we can describe as the shackles of the colonial era, and move on,” he continued.

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From POLITICO:

Egede, who has led Greenland since 2021 and hails from the pro-independence Community of the People (IA) party, said Denmark’s relations with Greenland had not created “full equality,” and that the island deserves to represent itself on the world stage.

“Our cooperation with other countries, and our trade relations, cannot continue to take place solely through Denmark,” he said.

Under a 2009 agreement with Denmark, Greenland can declare independence only after a successful referendum — which Egede appeared to hint at holding in tandem with the island’s upcoming parliamentary election in April.

“Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state,” he said. “It is necessary to take major steps … The upcoming new election period must, together with the citizens, create these new steps.”

As global powers seek to expand their reach and footprint in the Arctic, mineral-rich Greenland — which hosts a U.S. military base — is coveted for its strategic value in security and trade.



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