NUUK — People gathered at a traditional kayaking championship in Nuuk, Greenland, made their feelings clear on Wednesday: U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest push to take control of their island is unwelcome, and the island’s future belongs to its own people.
Trump renewed his call to gain control of Greenland — a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark — while speaking at a NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey this week. He argued that controlling the island is critical to U.S. national security.
But at the kayaking championships taking place in Nuuk harbour, where athletes wowed crowds by flipping their kayaks completely upside down and rolling back upright, spectators were quick to dismiss Trump’s ambitions. Many said they believed he was more interested in the island’s natural resources than in the well-being of its people.
“He only thinks of commodities and oil,” said Frederik Larsen, 72, a retired Greenland native. “I think we can manage without him.”
Birgithe Geisler, 60, a public school teacher, put it simply: Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.
“No one else should decide for us,” she said.
Hans David Ezekiassen, an instructor at the Greenland Maritime Center, offered perhaps the most direct response of all.
“I think it’s shit, to put it mildly,” he said. “He can’t even control his own country, so why must he try to take over other countries?”
Even an American visitor had reservations about Trump’s push. Andy Thon, 49, an engineer and member of Qajaq USA who traveled from the United States to take part in the championships, noted that Greenland is already working toward greater independence from Denmark.
“With Denmark, they’re making their way towards full autonomy and the U.S. wouldn’t need Greenland as a strategic point if the U.S. was playing nicely with our allies,” he said.
The remarks from Trump also drew sharp responses from officials. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated Wednesday that no matter how many times the call to take over the island is repeated, the answer remains the same — Greenland is not for sale.
