Greenland's leader steps up push for independence from Denmark

[HereForTheParty]

Source: Reuters

COPENHAGEN, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede emphasised his desire to pursue independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler, during his New Year speech, marking a significant change in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island's future.

Egede's speech, which comes on the heels of comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump expressing his wish for "ownership and control" of Greenland, also expressed a desire to strengthen Greenland's cooperation with other countries.

"It is about time that we ourselves take a step and shape our future, also with regard to who we will cooperate closely with, and who our trading partners will be," he said.

An independence movement has gained traction in Greenland in recent years in part due to revelations of misconduct by Danish authorities during the 20th century, including an involuntary birth control campaign launched in the 1960s.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/greenlands-leader-steps-up-push-independence-denmark-2025-01-03/

[brush]

1. Odd time for this. Seems Greenland would want Denmark's/NATO's protection from a hostile takeover...

re: trump's latest aggressive pronouncement.

[Fla Dem]

3. Will be interesting to see how this goes.

[BComplex]

5. Someone needs to check his bank account. LOL!

These days, the oligarchs are playing all kinds of global games.

[brush]

6. Agreed. See if he's suddenly gotten a new Swiss account.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Media in Greenland need to highlight the money part

[IronLionZion]

2. Trump will help liberate them from Denmark

in a very Putin-esque way

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Actually this is how Teddy Roosevelt helped Panama gain its independence from Columbia.

[brush]

7. "Helped" is the operative word. Probably "helped himself/the US would be more accurate.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Oh, the US was not acting like a self-less benefactor.

They knew what they wanted, and they got it. But the key was that it was early times and the Panamanians did not yet have a sense of self-determination. The US negotiated with a person who was highly invested in seeing the Canal built and had only lived in Panama a few years.

For Greenland, it will come down to how much support Greenlanders want to support a leader that will leave them vulnerable to Trump, who also happens to be a Putin supporter.

[brush]

9. It was a bit more paternalistic than that. US operatives encouraged/funded a separative movement from Columbia.

The whole Monroe Doctrine thing hovering over, in the paternalistic/imperialistic US's mind, it's hemisphere. Just as we've done in many South American and central American nations...back dictators who let us exploit their country's natural resources. In Panama the resource being the canal and the immense hegemony the US would gain over international shipping for 100 years.

Let's be clear, the canal belonged to the US, it was not a shared arrangement with Panama.

I agree with you on the Putin/trump angle.

[maxsolomon]

10. "We'll see how it plays out" -DJT

Greenland is not self-supporting. There aren't even 60,000 people there.

[brush]

11. It's very vulnerable I would say without Denmark/NATO's protection.

[karin_sj]

12. This doesn't seem like a good idea

Especially right now...

[valleyrogue]

13. Not smart. Better to put off such notions for at least four years. n/t

[NickB79]

17. If the people of Greenland want self-rule, I say let them

As much as I hate Trump's stupid idea to make Greenland part of the US, I wouldn't use this as an excuse to deny the people their right to democratically choose how they wish to be governed.

They even signed a treaty with Denmark in 2009 where Denmark recognized their right to declare independence if they want to:

https://visitgreenland.com/articles/greenlands-modern-path-to-independence/

Greenland has the right to declare independence. In Greenland’s Self-Government Act enacted by Denmark and Greenland in 2009, the Greenlanders are recognised as a people or nation entitled to the right of self-determination, with the option of independence. While it is recognised that most Greenlanders favour independence, opinions and strategies of how to reach this status are many, not least concerning the assumption of responsibility for its budget.

[Lucky Luciano]

18. It does smell like the PM is being bought off by someone...

[NickB79]

19. I'm assuming they'd put it to the people of Greenland for a vote