Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, and the city of Aarhus on Saturday to protest remarks made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance regarding Greenland. The protests came a day after Vance and an American delegation visited Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Base, in northwest Greenland.
During his visit, Vance criticized Denmark for not doing enough to ensure security in the Arctic or for the well-being of the Greenlandic people. His remarks sparked outrage among Danish political leaders and the public, leading to widespread demonstrations.
In Copenhagen, prominent Danish political figure Mogens Lykketoft, a former foreign minister and past president of the United Nations General Assembly, addressed the gathered crowd. He called for international solidarity against what he described as “American aggression” toward Greenland.
“We must fight our case at the UN, where it is certain that an overwhelming majority of countries will join in condemning American aggression against Greenland,” Lykketoft stated. He further urged Danish citizens to appeal directly to Americans, referencing polls that indicate 70 percent of U.S. citizens oppose any attempts to claim Greenland.
His speech was met with enthusiastic applause, and the demonstrators responded in both Greenlandic and Danish with chants of “Greenland is not for sale.”
A similar protest unfolded in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, where demonstrators gathered in the city center to denounce U.S. actions and express support for Greenland’s autonomy.
Greenland, formerly a Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, though Denmark continues to oversee its foreign affairs and defense.
The protests highlight growing tensions over Greenland’s geopolitical significance, especially given its strategic location and valuable natural resources. The U.S. has expressed interest in Greenland in the past, with former President Donald Trump famously proposing to buy the island in 2019 a suggestion that was met with strong opposition in both Denmark and Greenland.
The latest controversy underscores the delicate balance Denmark must maintain in its relationship with Greenland and the growing global interest in the Arctic region.
