Greenland has been thrust into a geopolitical firestorm as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up his threats to annex the self-governing Danish territory.
But, while Trump says the U.S. needs the huge Arctic island for its national security, and European leaders have responded that security is a collective endeavor, independence for the island of just 57,000 people remains a long-term goal.
Opinion polls have shown that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. control, while a strong majority support independence from Denmark.
The White House has said Trump and his national security team are “actively” discussing a potential offer to buy Greenland — and that while diplomacy is the first option, all options, including military force, were on the table.
“For many years, the majority of Greenlanders have been fighting for our right to represent ourselves,” Aaja Chemnitz, a pro-independence MP and one of two lawmakers in the Danish parliament representing Greenland, told CNBC by video call.
