Thousands Rally in Denmark and Nuuk for 'Hands Off Greenland' Protests After Trump's Remarks

Large demonstrations are planned across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday as organisers and thousands of participants protest reported US interest in acquiring Greenland. Rallies and marches have been announced in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense and the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk.

Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, together with the citizens' movement "Hands Off Greenland" and Inuit, an umbrella group of Greenlandic associations, said the events aim to defend Greenland's democracy, human rights and right to self-determination.

The protests follow comments by then-US President Donald Trump, who warned he "may put a tariff" on countries that oppose his reported interest in Greenland. Greenland remains an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark; organisers argue any outside attempt to acquire the island would violate international law and the Greenlandic people's right to decide their own future.

The demonstration in Nuuk is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT); organisers say protesters will march to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags. The Copenhagen rally is due to start at 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) and is expected to pause outside the US embassy in the Danish capital around an hour later.

"Recent events have put Greenland and Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark under pressure," Uagut chairwoman Julie Rademacher said in a statement to AFP. "When tensions rise and people go into a state of alarm, we risk creating more problems than solutions. We appeal to Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark to stand together."

Demanding Respect and Legal Principles

Organisers say the rallies are timed to coincide with a visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers. On the event's Facebook page, at least 900 people in Greenland indicated they planned to take part; the territory's population is about 57,000.

"With this demonstration, we want to show that we are taking action, that we stand together and that we support our politicians, diplomats and partners," said organiser Kristian Johansen. Avijaja Rosing-Olsen added: "We demand respect for our country's right to self-determination and for us as a people. We demand respect for international law and international legal principles. This is not only our struggle; it is a struggle that concerns the entire world."

According to a poll published in January 2025, 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose the territory joining the United States, while only 6 percent were in favour.