Upon our arrival in Copenhagen, we enjoyed the lovely weather and explored the city over the weekend before our interview-packed days started.
On Monday, we started with a virtual meeting with Thomas Hjort, the CEO of Arctic Import, which helped us gain a sense of how supply chains and business logistics actually operate in Greenland. For example, he explained how heavily Greenland relies on external supply chains and how the market is changing with a growing US military presence.
Later that day, we also visited the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen to meet with Dr. Jens Heinrich. He shifted our focus toward diplomacy and the intense geopolitical pressure Greenlanders are facing right now. It was also great to learn more about Greenlandic society and culture from people who grew up there. We got to tour the building and take a picture with the stuffed polar bear, Greenland’s national animal!
Dr. Jens Heinrich, left, with Alexandra, Navya, and Anna
On Tuesday, we spent the afternoon at the University of Copenhagen with Professor Frank Sejersen. He described the sudden, intense US interest in the region as one of Denmark’s biggest foreign policy crises in decades. It helped us better understand the dynamics between Danish and Greenlandic political actors. He gave great insights and even recommended visiting his favorite area in Copenhagen, Nørrebro, and advised us to visit the famous cemetery where Kierkegaard is buried.
University of Copenhagen with Professor Frank Sejersen with Alexandra, Navya, and Anna
When we aren’t in interviews, we walk around the beautiful city, try to eat all the must-try pastries, and visit new sights, while also trying to digest all of the new information we gain from our discussions. Our topic includes a lot of complex history and politics, but it’s been very interesting so far.
