For more than 150 years, US officials have tried to “acquire” Greenland, as President Trump has put it.
The idea reappeared in the 1860s and before and after the World War. In a way, the Greenlanders are reexamining the history of the painful colonies under Denmark, revisiting many itching attempts to break from Denmark, which still controls some of the island's problems.
But it appears that President Trump is overestimating his card – big time.
His decision announced this weekend that he would be sending the best US delegation to the island. The administration attempted to present it as a friendly trip, with Vice President J.D. Vance's wife, Usha Vance, attending a dog race with one of his sons this week, with national security adviser Michael Waltz going to tour the US military base.
But instead of winning Greenland's 56,000 hearts, the move, coupled with Trump's recent statement that “in some way, we'll get it.”
Over the past 24 hours, the Greenland government has dropped its stance of being shy and ambiguous in the face of Trump's forced efforts. Instead, it blasted him as “aggressive” and called for Europe for backup. The planned visit may strengthen ties between Greenland and Denmark, an ice-covered land three times the size of Texas.
Lars Trier Morgensen, a Copenhagen-based political analyst, said: “The attack has left Greenland even further away from the US. A year ago, all Greenland's political parties were looking forward to more business with Americans.”
His prediction? “In the Kingdom of Denmark and its alliance, he said, “seek for the security of the current situation.”
Even the dog-covered race responded calmly. Contest organizers – Avannaata Qimussersua, essentially a Super Bowl of the Dog Type, added that “we didn't invite them,” on Sunday for Vance and her son, “we didn't invite them,” but the event was open to the public and “they might attend as an audience.”
The Greenland drama began during Trump's first term. He had the idea of buying an island from Denmark. The people in his camp pointed to its main strategic location along the edge of North America and along the Arctic Ocean, but the plans vanished. As it seemed, it was off the blue, Trump was not the first American official to raise it.
In 1868, Secretary of State William Seward, fresh from the Alaska purchase, commissioned a study on the Greenland acquisition. He was interested in Greenland coal, but the plans went nowhere. American officials revived the idea in 1910 and again in 1946 saw Greenland as a strategically important territorial mass, but Denmark didn't want to let it go.
The Danish grip has changed in recent years. In 2009, Denmark recognized Greenland Limited Self-Leaf. That is, the island operates most of its operations except for defense, foreign policy and a few others. Movement for complete independence is gathering steam. This month, closely monitored parliamentary elections have had troubling and complicated results. The No. 1 party wants it as soon as possible, and wants to slowly pursue independence, while including prominent Pro Trump members who attended the president's inauguration.
This raises another question: the timing of the visit, while Greenland's parties are still negotiating about forming the island's next government.
“That's a bad timing. We don't have a new government yet. They should have waited,” said Jens Peter Lange, a dental technician in Illissat, an Arctic town.
But he said, “Is it rude? It's not really. I say rather: they lack situational awareness.”
Mining executive and recently star of the Danish Netflix series, set entire season in Greenland, Svend Hardenberg, has provided a more subtle, but less pointed out-of-view.
“People read political intent to something that is actually very simple,” he said. “This was supposed to be a positive, cultural celebration, and now it's turned into a geopolitical standoff.”
He denounced the press, especially in Denmark, for “shaping public opinion in a direction that produces distrust,” saying, “it's a Danish story. Denmark defends its own position in the world, and that's what we see here.”
This visit has been in work for several weeks. Jorgen Boassen, a Greenland brickologist and outspoken supporter of Trump, said he helped him plan it. Bosen has been involved in some of Trump camp's pushy efforts in Greenland, including a visit by Donald Trump Jr. in January, and then Trump's social media influencer has given him a $100 bill. Many Greenlanders didn't like it either.
Still, in an interview, Bossen said, “We should not only reject them, but we should work with Americans. We cannot avoid the United States as partners.”
“I think it's absolutely amazing that they're coming,” he added. “It's a great promotion for sled dogs in Greenland.”
