Photo: Collected

COPENHAGEN, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Thousands of people took to the streets 
of Denmark's capital on Saturday to protest at US President Donald Trump's 
push to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

The protest followed Trump's warning on Friday that he "may put a tariff" on 
countries that oppose his plans to take over mineral-rich Greenland, which is 
an autonomous territory of Denmark.

They also coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a bipartisan delegation 
from the US Congress that has made clear the opposition of many Americans to 
the Trump administration's sabre-rattling.

Waving the flags of Denmark and Greenland, the protesters formed a sea of red 
and white outside Copenhagen city hall, chanting "Kalaallit Nunaat!" -- the 
vast Arctic island's name in Greenlandic.

Thousands of people had said on social media they would to take part in 
marches and rallies organised by Greenlandic associations in Copenhagen, and 
in Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense and the Greenlandic capital Nuuk.

"The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's 
democracy and fundamental human rights," Uagut, an association of 
Greenlanders in Denmark, said on its website.

A sister demonstration was scheduled to happen in Nuuk, the capital of 
Greenland, at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), to protest the US' "illegal plans to take 
control of Greenland", organisers said. Demonstrators would march to the US 
consulate carrying Greenlandic flags.

The Copenhagen rally, which began at 12:00 pm (1100 GMT), was due to make a 
stop outside the US embassy in the Danish capital.

- 'Demand respect' -

"Recent events have put Greenland and Greenlanders in both Greenland and 
Denmark under pressure," Uagut chairwoman Julie Rademacher said in a 
statement to AFP, calling for "unity".

"When tensions rise and people go into a state of alarm, we risk creating 
more problems than solutions for ourselves and for each other. We appeal to 
Greenlanders in both Greenland and Denmark to stand together," she said.

The demonstration in Greenland was "to show that we are taking action, that 
we stand together and that we support our politicians, diplomats and 
partners," Kristian Johansen, one of the organisers, said in a statement.

"We demand respect for our country's right to self-determination and for us 
as a people," added Avijaja Rosing-Olsen, another organiser.

"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 the latest poll published in January 2025, 85 percent of 
Greenlanders oppose the territory joining the United States. Only six percent 
were in favour.

- 'No security threat' -

Speaking in Copenhagen, where the Congressional delegation met top Danish and 
Greenlandic politicians and business leaders, US Democratic Senator Chris 
Coons insisted there was no security threat to Greenland to justify the Trump 
administration's stance.

He was responding after Trump advisor Stephen Miller claimed on Fox News that 
Denmark was too small to defend its sovereign Arctic territory.

"There are no pressing security threats to Greenland, but we share real 
concern about Arctic security going forward, as the climate changes, as the 
sea ice retreats, as shipping routes change," Coons told the press.

"There are legitimate reasons for us to explore ways to invest better in 
Arctic security broadly, both in the American Arctic and in our NATO partners 
and allies," said Coons, who is leading the US delegation.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Denmark -- a NATO ally -- for, in his view, 
not doing enough to ensure Greenland's security.

The US president has pursued that argument, despite strategically located 
Greenland -- as part of Denmark -- being covered by NATO's security umbrella.

European NATO members are deploying troops in Greenland for a military 
exercise designed to show the world, including the United States, that they 
will "defend (their) sovereignty", French armed forces minister Alice Rufo 
said this week.

Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have 
announced they are sending small numbers of military personnel to prepare for 
future exercises in the Arctic.

The United States has been invited to participate in the excercise, Denmark 
said on Friday.