Greenlanders march to US consulate building, protesting Trump’s annexation bid

NUUK, Greenland

Around 1,000 Greenlanders on Saturday marched in the capital Nuuk, protesting US President Donald Trump's recent remarks on the sovereignty of their country.

The protesters gathered in the city center and marched to the US consulate building located on the outskirts of the city.

Shouting slogans in the Greenlandic language, the angry crowd expressed that Greenland is theirs, carrying their flag.

“Stop threats and aggression! Don’t take over our country. You are not welcome,” some placards read during the rally.

Mute Egede, acting head of the government of Greenland, and Jens Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, addressed the crowd, reminding that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders and Trump’s vision of annexing their country was “unacceptable.”

A similar demonstration was also organized in the city of Sisimiut, north Greenland.

Demonstrators sang the Greenlandic anthem “Nunarput Utoqqarsuanngoravit” - a prideful song about Greenlandic pride, identity, and respect for their traditions – outside the US consulate.

The chairmen of all five political parties that now have members in the Greenland parliament, Inatsisartut, said they cannot accept Trump’s repeated statements on the annexation of their country.

The leaders of Demokraatit, Naleraq, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut parties said in a joint statement that Trump’s behavior is "unacceptable."

Trump on Thursday questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over the island and said: “Denmark is very far away and doesn't really have anything to do. What happened? A boat landed there 200 years ago or something. They say they have rights to it, and I don't know if that's true. I actually don't think so.”

He said he has been in contact with Denmark and Greenland, and “we have to do it” – acquire the island.