Greenland’s independence leader backs Denmark after Trump’s Arctic

Aqqaluk Lynge, once a firebrand for Greenland’s secession, says the United States under Donald Trump now poses a greater danger than Denmark, prompting him to support remaining in the Danish realm [1]. The 78‑year‑old poet‑activist’s shift reflects a broader political realignment in Nuuk after Trump’s rhetoric on Arctic control.

Key takeaways

• Lynge, a co‑founder of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, now argues Denmark is the only safeguard against U.S. aggression [1].
• Trump’s 2025 statements threatening to take Greenland or impose tariffs on Denmark spurred a surge for the Denmark‑friendly Demokraatit party [1].
• Greenland’s political landscape, long dominated by pro‑independence parties such as Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Naleraq, is now led by a coalition that has ruled out immediate independence [1].
• Denmark’s acting prime minister Mette Frederiksen emphasizes that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people, while offering apologies for past colonial abuses [1].
• The island’s independence movement remains a core nationalist ambition across most Greenlandic parties, as noted in its political history [2].

From separatist firebrand to defender of the Danish tie

Lynge’s early activism dates back to the 1950s, when he co‑founded Inuit Ataqatigiit, a party that for decades pushed for full sovereignty while Greenland gradually assumed more self‑government responsibilities [1]. He once denounced Denmark as an “exploitative colonial overlord,” writing in a 1975 poem that “they must be removed” [1]. However, the arrival of a U.S. bomber with nuclear weapons in 1968, and later revelations that Copenhagen had secretly approved American overflights, deepened his distrust of Danish policy [1].

The turning point came in early 2025, when President Trump publicly demanded control of Greenland, even threatening tariffs on Denmark and hinting at possible military action [1]. His March 2025 speech—“I think we’re going to get it, one way or the other”—triggered fear among Greenlanders that the island could become a pawn in U.S. strategic competition. In the March 2025 election, the Denmark‑friendly Demokraatit party tripled its vote share to about 30%, becoming the largest party and forming a coalition with the traditionally pro‑independence Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, which together secured only roughly 36% of the vote [1].

Lynge now tells Reuters that “the only ones that can save us today are Denmark and Europe,” arguing that remaining within the Danish kingdom shields Greenland from American designs [1]. Greenland’s foreign minister Mute Egede echoed this sentiment, warning that U.S. takeover would extinguish the dream of self‑determination [1].

Why it matters

The shift illustrates how external geopolitical pressure can reshape domestic independence movements. While Greenlandic nationalism remains entrenched—most parties still list independence as a long‑term goal [2]—the immediate priority for many leaders is security and economic stability under Danish protection. Denmark’s prime minister reiterated that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people, and the Danish government has offered apologies for historic injustices such as non‑consensual contraception programs [1].