Hundreds of Greenlanders gathered outside a new American consulate in the capital Nuuk on Friday to protest against Donald Trump’s ambition for greater influence over the island.
The protest capped a week in which the US president’s special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, made his first trip to the territory, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.
“Our government already told Donald Trump and his administration that Greenland is not for sale,” said Aqqalukkuluk Fontain, who organised the protest.
The inauguration of the new consulate and Landry’s visit come amid efforts to ease diplomatic tensions after the US president’s demands to control the island because of national security concerns.
“Our message is for the American people and to the rest of the world,” Fontain, 37, told the BBC .”That in a democratic world, no means no.”
Standing among the crowd of protesters, Inge Bisgaard told the BBC that Landry’s visit showed a lack of respect. “It’s so important to show this is not okay.”
“We get this fear from the United States. People were just recovering from last time, when it all began again in January,” she said, referring to Trump’s declarations for the US to “own” Greenland.
Another protester, 25-year-old Parnuna Olsen, questioned why the US needed a consulate in Greenland at all.
ReutersA close ally of Trump and Governor of Louisiana, Landry stirred controversy by coming without an official invitation, and while high-stakes talks continue to resolve the diplomatic crisis sparked by the US president’s bid to control the territory.
Landry flew back to the US on Wednesday evening and was due to meet Trump on Thursday, the BBC understands.
Moving from a wooden cabin to a much larger high-rise, the new 3000 sq m consulate takes up a prominent location in the middle of downtown Nuuk.
Nicknamed “Trump towers” by locals, it marks a major and, for some residents, an unwelcome upgrade, at a sensitive time for US-Greenlandic relations.
Inside, the American anthem was performed by a musician on a ukulele to mark the diplomatic mission’s opening.
A plaque was unveiled by the US Ambassador to Denmark, Kenneth Howery, who said he looked forward to a deeper partnership with Greenland.
“The Arctic is clearly a region of global importance,” he said. “We will always be neighbours and be with you into whatever future you choose as allies and partners.”
EPAGreenlandic politicians were largely absent. Prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen had declined to attend and no cabinet ministers were present.
Naaja Nathanielsen, one of two Greenlandic MPs in the Danish parliament, told the BBC she had also turned down the invitation. “I think that right now it’s about sending signals,” she said.
Landry had travelled to Nuuk for a business summit, but spent little time at the event.
During his three-day trip, Landry met Nielsen, the current and former foreign ministers, and a group of business leaders – part of an effort to “build ties and make “friends”.
However, the charm offensive also provoked unease, with some Greenlanders turning down meetings.
In an interview with local newspaper Sermitsiaq, Landry fanned the territory’s dreams of independence.
“I think Greenland could have an equally good or even better economy as an independent country,” he said.
When asked if the president would respect Greenland’s red lines on sovereignty, Landry responded: “There is only one line for us. It is red, white and blue.”
The White House did not share any details about Trump’s meeting with Landry, but in a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson said: “The United States is optimistic that we are on a good trajectory to address US national security interests in Greenland.”
The spokesperson added: “Governor Landry is doing a great job and is a strong asset to the world-class team that President Trump has put together.”
Trump has repeatedly cited Greenland’s strategic importance for US national security, in his calls to acquire the autonomous Danish territory.
A “working group” is trying to resolve the dispute, with Washington seeking a greater military presence, but an agreement has not yet been reached.
At the height of the Cold War, there were 17 American bases in Greenland. Now there’s only one.
In April, a US Northern Command spokesperson told the BBC that they were looking into infrastructure improvements at its existing Pituffik Space Base, and that “consideration of other sites such as Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq” were under discussion.
Greenland’s leader suggested this week that the working group was making progress.
However, a New York Times report on Monday pointed to deep concerns on the Greenlandic side about encroachment of sovereignty.
According to the report, the US wants its troops to be allowed to remain in Greenland indefinitely, and the power to veto major investments in Greenland in order to keep China and Russia out.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Nato allies for a summit in Sweden, where they are expected to discuss the region’s security.
