A Greenlandic politician who fought for his people’s autonomy wants the United States to back down

Greenland’s population is running out of steam, says Aqqaluk Lynge.

Lynge, a former member of Greenland’s parliament, is one of the founders of the pro-Greenlandic independence party Inuit Ataqatigiit. But these days, like US threatens to annex Greenland againLynge loudly reminds the world that his homeland is a free and autonomous territory of the Danish Commonwealth.

This may be news, he says, for White House homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, who told CNN Monday that “Greenland should be part of the United States” and refused to rule out forcible seizure.

A few days earlier, Miller’s wife, political consultant Katie Miller, posted a map of Greenland on X colored with the American flag, next to the caption: “SOON”.

These renewed threats come after the The United States attacked Venezuela this weekend, captured its presidentt and his wife, and declIf he did, he would rule the country and its oil industry. Shortly after, US President Donald Trump threatened to do the same with Colombia.

Trump also frequently touts the idea of making Canada the 51st state.

“Maybe Canada will be next, then Greenland,” Lynge said in an interview with As it happens host Nil Köksal. Here is part of that conversation.

You’ve been here before. The American president has already threatened the sovereignty of Greenland. But when you first heard those words from Stephen Miller, how did you react at the time?

Above all, we are an integral part of the Danish constitution and we are proud to be a member of the Danish community in Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. So this is our reality.

Maybe these comments were meant to elicit a reaction. But for you personally, how did you feel hearing that?

It’s a bit of a disservice, you know. Because it was a year ago tomorrow that Trump’s son landed in Greenland and created this situation.

Greenland is part of Europe. Greenland is part of Denmark. Greenland is one of the Nordic countries. We are part of the Western world, members of NATO. So why should he [the] Is the United States doing this to us?

It’s ridiculous for us, from here, to see what’s happening. We are not an enemy. We have been friends with the United States for at least 80 years. What is going on here? If they want something with Greenland, why don’t they talk to the Danish and Greenlandic governments about it, instead of using their social media to do everything?

I think we have a very serious problem and we need Canada’s support.

As for the US administration, they are implying that this is one way or another a security issue. What do you think is the motivation for this conference? Why do you think they return to this subject in this way?

Since the 1990s, the United States closed its own bases in Greenland. It was not us who created a situation in which their presence only lasted Thule Air Base. The United States is therefore solely responsible. We did nothing against them.

It’s really frustrating for us. What do you do with friends who are no longer friends? I don’t know.

I think all of us in the Arctic need to be ready for anything. And I’m sure that Denmark and Canada have very close relations. We are currently in a dangerous, very dangerous situation.

Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, as you know, spoke today with his Danish counterpart. He spoke of support for Denmark and Greenland. And we also know that in February our Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will be visiting. And she confirmed that Canada will open a consulate in Nuuk. This visit, the comments so far, the opening of a consulate, how can this help with what you are currently experiencing? Is this possible?

With the changing world we are witnessing, we need friends in Greenland, which is why we are very happy to open this new office here. And it is also important that after Maduro, we talk about Colombia. Maybe Canada will be next, then Greenland.

This is definitely something that makes Greenlanders very nervous. And I think the vast majority of Greenlanders want a stable connection with Denmark through the arrangements we have. It’s the only freedom we have.

The world must understand that Greenland is not about to do anything other than negotiate with Denmark, our closest ally for 300 years, and that we have no intention of separating from Denmark. This is not the case. We are not separatists.

You have previously campaigned for Greenlandic independence. Does this kind of pressure from the United States… change what you think about this movement?

The question of independence can be resolved in several ways, and we have already done so in Greenland in a way that [is] very good for us. Denmark and Greenland work closely together.

We had no problems until MAGA arrived. So what we need in Greenland is to stay together.

We are not negotiating independence at the moment. The world has changed so much that it is no longer on the agenda. What is on the table is that Denmark needs Greenland and we need the Faroe Islands united in the Danish Commonwealth. We need support from the outside world.

Those who try to destroy the connection between Denmark and Greenland will fail, because we are family. We have been together for 300 years.

We are not about to separate ourselves from the world. It is the United States that is separating itself from the Western world. And that’s something everyone should care about.

What are you hearing from your friends and family? You know, when you talk about the dangerous moment that we’re in and that you’re in, what are people telling you, just personally, about how they’re feeling?

I think most Greenlanders are nervous that something might happen. And that’s how we look at the United States today. Ordinary people no longer trust the United States.