Minister says island wants independence, not to become American
January 16, 2026: Greenland’s Minister for Business, Trade, Mineral Resources, Justice and Gender Equality, Naaja Nathanielsen, has firmly said that Greenland does not want to become part of the United States, stressing that the Arctic island’s people wish to determine their own future. While underlining Greenland’s long-standing partnership with Washington, she said the territory does not see its future as American, even as it values cooperation on investment, security and Arctic monitoring.
Nathanielsen said recent statements from US President Donald Trump about Greenland’s strategic importance have unsettled many residents. She described a sense of betrayal among Greenlanders, noting that while they support a stronger European and NATO presence in the Arctic, any US military action against Greenland would have serious global consequences and could alter the existing world order. She also suggested that American interest in Greenland could be driven by a mix of military, resource-related and ideological factors.
Her remarks come amid heightened diplomatic engagement between Greenland, Denmark and the United States, following Trump’s repeated assertions that US control of Greenland is vital for national security. Talks between senior officials have failed to resolve differences, with Denmark and its European allies moving to strengthen security by deploying troops to the island. Trump has continued to argue that Greenland is crucial to countering Russian and Chinese influence and securing access to critical mineral resources.