Hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of Copenhagen and Aarhus on Saturday, voicing strong opposition to recent remarks and actions by the U.S. administration regarding Greenland.
The protests ignited a day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance and an American delegation visited Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, formerly known as Thule Base. During his visit, Vice President Vance criticized Denmark for not doing enough for security in the Arctic or the well-being of the Greenlandic people.
Mogens Lykketoft, a prominent Danish political figure and former president of the United Nations General Assembly, addressed the crowd in Copenhagen, calling for solidarity. “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, and then we must appeal directly for support from the 70 percent of Americans who are against conquering Greenland,” he said. “We must never give up.”
His remarks drew loud applause from the crowd, who responded in Greenlandic and Danish with chants affirming that “Greenland is not for sale.”
In Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, demonstrators also gathered in the city center to protest U.S. actions and voice support for Greenland’s autonomy.
Greenland, once 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 retains control over foreign affairs and defense.
