Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the United States, poll shows

Nuuk, Greenland. (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)

An opinion poll indicated that 85% of Greenlanders do not wish their Arctic island – a semi-autonomous Danish territory – to become a part of the United States, with nearly half saying they see interest by U.S. President Donald Trump as a threat.

Trump said earlier this month that Greenland was vital to U.S. security and Denmark should give up control of the strategically important island.

The survey by pollster Verian, commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, showed only 6% of Greenlanders are in favor of their island becoming part of the U.S., with 9% undecided.

The poll showed that 45% viewed Trump’s interest in Greenland as a threat, with 43% saying they see it as an opportunity, leaving 13% undecided.

Greenland enjoys many of the same welfare benefits as Denmark such as universal healthcare and free education.

Only 8% of those polled said they would be willing to change their Danish citizenship to American, 55% said they would prefer to be Danish citizens, and 37% were undecided.

Danish PM meets with other European leaders 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday she had given full backing to the principle of maintaining respect for international borders, following meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO chief Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“I am pleased if the survey is an expression that many Greenlanders would like to see a continued close cooperation with Denmark. Probably in a different form than what we know today, because everything changes over time,” she told Berlingske in response to the poll.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen leave after talking to the media at the Chancellery on January 28, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. The two are meeting as U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing forward with his demand that Denmark relinquish Greenland to the United States. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Denmark said on Monday it would spend 14.6 billion crowns ($2.04 billion) on boosting its military presence in the Arctic.

Greenland – with a land mass larger than Mexico and a population of 57,000 – was granted broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has stepped up a push for independence, has repeatedly said the island is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future.

The U.S. military has a permanent presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a strategic location for its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Survey shows Canadians fear losing Arctic territory without stronger action, CBC News

Denmark: ICC warns against sidelining Inuit as global powers eye Greenland, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Finland supports Greenland remaining part of Denmark says PM, Yle News

Russia: New radars sharpen Russian air defense over northern Finland, Norway, The Independent Barents Observer

SwedenSwedish PM on Trump comments: Only Denmark and Greenland decide, Radio Sweden

United States: Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal, Eye on the Arctic

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