A former independence leader explains a startling shift of heart, citing external pressure and safety worries that reshape Greenland’s political choices.
NUUK, Greenland – Aqqaluk Lynge, Greenland’s champion of independence, has undergone a radical conversion.
Half a century ago, an Inuit activist and poet co-founded one of the island’s largest independence parties, calling on his fellow villagers to sever ties with Denmark, which he described as an exploitative colonial overlord.
“They must be eliminated. We will no longer pay the price,” he wrote in a 1975 poem. “Suffering cannot be eased by consolation. Oppression is what we must fight.”
– Aqqaluk Lynge
A shift in stance in response to the US threat
But now, Greenland faces what he sees as a far more serious threat: U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly demanded to bring this vast Arctic island under his control under the pretext of national security. According to Lynge, this atmosphere has led him to believe that the island’s future should remain protected by Denmark, which he sees as a guardian against American aggression.
“We feel betrayed by the United States,” said the 78-year-old Lynge during an interview near his home in Nuuk. “We find ourselves in a very difficult situation where the only ones who can save us now are Denmark and Europe.”
– Aqqaluk Lynge
Lynge is not alone. The rhetoric of the U.S. president has sparked a sharp reaction that is changing Greenland’s political trajectory – just as earlier Trump threats in Canada re-energized voters and led to the Liberal Party’s victory.
For decades, the southern sectors of Greenland’s politics often supported independence, but after the March 2025 elections the balance of power shifted: the government was led by a party that refused to discuss independence in the near term, instead backing a slow path toward potential secession. The government also included politicians who had previously advocated independence but have now changed their stance.
“Our pursuit of self-determination exists, but for now we must safeguard our future,” said Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede, summarizing. “If the United States takes us away, the dream of self-determination will disappear forever.”
– Mute Egede
This marks a deep shift in Greenland. Politics here has long been tied to the historical grievance of Denmark’s colonial past, which, whether intentionally or not, affected another nation’s statehood, particularly in the areas of population policies and defense.
Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen noted that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland,” and that only they should decide the future of their land. She added that her government had apologized for colonial wrongs, including with contraceptive practices.
“We must have the courage to look at the past and acknowledge the wrong in order to preserve close and respectful relations between our countries,” said Frederiksen in a statement. “Greenland and Denmark stand side by side.”
– Mette Frederiksen
The White House spoke of talks with Greenland and Denmark on national security and expressed optimism about the process. The U.S. State Department added that it hopes to find a solution that protects U.S. national security while also improving the future prospects of the people of Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen did not respond to a request for comment.
To understand the shift in Arctic politics, Reuters spoke with a number of politicians, officials, and residents who saw Lynge’s changes as a symbol of Greenland’s public opinion transforming.
FURTHER CUTS – PREPARATIONS FOR WAR?
The evolution of Lynge’s views reflects changes among many citizens of the country. Among them are business people like Bent Olsvig Jensen, who previously supported increasing American investment in the country but, after Trump’s threats, grew more cautious.
He had to tell his fears to his own son: during a conversation in a hotel in a local town, his 21-year-old son expressed a desire to buy ammunition in case of an invasion. Jensen recalled the conversation with tears: “This is the last thing you want to go through.”
Other sources among Greenlandic businesspeople confirm that people are stocking up on weapons and ammunition in case of military escalation. It’s worth noting that emotional stress among the population has risen sharply over the past year: according to a study published by the local health institute, the share of people experiencing mental strain rose from 7% to 31%.
“Changes in global politics are forcing people to rethink their steps and risks,” the institute’s report says.
– study source
THE THREAT INSTEAD OF A VERDICT – WHAT HAPPENED?
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Egede rejected the suggestion that the government is intentionally painting Denmark in a light other than reality. “We have not forgotten our past; however, in the current realities we must decide the future together with the Kingdom of Denmark,” Egede said. He added that the government line has not changed entirely – the drive for independence remains, but raising it should happen only in the context of cooperation with Denmark.
The coalition partner Pipaluk Lynge, daughter of Aqquluk Lynge, who is a member of Inuit Ataqatigiit and chairs the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, said that the government line reflects changes in her father’s views.
“Everyone understands that the world has changed, regardless of whether you are foreign minister or a bus driver. When the world changes, your strategy must adapt,” said Pipaluk Lynge.
– Pipaluk Lynge
She admitted that her father was struck by how many people change positions under the influence of new realities, but added that this turn in outlook does not mean a complete abandonment of the idea of self-determination – it is more an adaptation to the new geopolitical environment.
Several days after the special operation against Nicolás Maduro, the White House said it was considering the possibility of using military force to seize Greenland, which provoked responses among NATO countries, including the United Kingdom and France, which sent small contingents to the island. The Danish prime minister stated that Denmark and Greenland share a common path forward in response to the security crisis.
In 2025, the Danish government announced the start of a new review of their relations since World War II, stating that Denmark’s commitments to openness about past issues remain in force. It also officially expressed its intention to review historical events, including those concerning the unlawful assessment of parenting skills and the use of tests in the field of upbringing that enabled the separation of children from Greenlandic families.
In response, Naleraq, one of the most radical independence parties, gained significant support and put forward a slogan for a faster move toward full independence, accusing Denmark of holding them hostage and calling for an immediate review of relations with Denmark. Naleraq’s leader, Pele Broberg, stated: “Denmark is not a partner for us. They are holding us hostage.”
These events reflect a long memory of the colonial period – including a history of population improvements through coercive medical practices and the isolation of settlements – now at the center of public attention and legal investigations. In 2024, Greenland’s prime minister called this policy “genocide,” which subsequently led to Denmark’s official apology and compensation payments.
Kiler, the grandson of one of Siumut’s founders, Inertey Kiselsen, recalled how in his childhood his grandmother was involved in forced births, and how this history later shaped his views on independence. Reuters could not independently verify the account; however, the events of that time left a deep mark on collective memory.
With each passing year, the question of independence remained a topic of discussion in Greenland, but now more practical issues – security, the economy, and future formats of cooperation with Denmark and other countries – are moving to the agenda. Some observers believe that the new government’s course could lead to a new balance between the ambitions of self-determination and the realities of international relations.
REALIGNMENT OF POLITICAL FORCES AND A VIEW OF THE FUTURE
“Dreams about forming a state must stop.”
– Aqqaluk Lynge
For many Greenlanders, the fear of possible U.S. actions has gradually given way to the understanding that the reality is largely about cooperating with Denmark to secure a stable future. The island’s main political players today speak of the need for a balanced approach, where security, the economy, and cultural autonomy go hand in hand with support from the Kingdom of Denmark.
In this context, Lynge, as a former advocate of independence, recognizes the new realities and emphasizes that true freedom may require a different kind of leadership and strategies. And while calls for full independence still resonate in some parts of civil society, they are now voiced in a more cautious and measured tone.
Greenland continues to move within the framework of the Kingdom of Denmark, but its move toward peace, order, and measured policy could over time reopen doors to new forms of autonomy – taking into account lessons from centuries past and the needs of its people today.
Ultimately, shifts in Greenland’s political palette show that even the most critical voices can turn into pragmatic solutions. Now the most important thing is to maintain dialogue, ensure security, and give people the opportunity to decide their future in their own way within the shared border with Denmark and other countries.
Greenland is now on the cusp of a new era – one marked by closer engagement with Denmark, an acknowledgment of past mistakes, and hope for stable development that would allow the island to preserve its uniqueness within a shared future.