By Haifa Chairunisa
Residents of Greenland’s western Arctic coast are voicing growing unease over renewed US interest in the territory, as President Donald Trump repeats claims that the island could eventually fall under American control.
In Ilulissat, a fishing town bordering one of Greenland’s largest ice fjords, long-time fisherman Joel Hansen said the idea of a US takeover has left him fearful about the future of his community. Trump has said Greenland would become part of the United States “by one means or another,” and has not dismissed the possibility of military involvement.
US officials argue that Greenland’s location makes it critical to American security interests in the Arctic. Analysts, however, say Washington is also drawn to the island’s largely untapped mineral reserves.
Hansen, who is of Inuit and Danish descent, has spent more than a decade fishing the icy waters near Ilulissat. He said becoming part of the United States would threaten Greenland’s social and economic way of life, pointing to the struggles faced by Indigenous communities in Alaska. While acknowledging Greenland’s long and sometimes strained relationship with Denmark, he said remaining within the Danish realm provides a degree of stability and personal freedom.
Greenland has exercised increasing self-governance since gaining home rule in 1979, followed by broader autonomy under a 2009 agreement. Despite this, it remains part of the Danish kingdom, aligning politically with Europe while being geographically located in North America.
The island is believed to hold significant deposits of zinc, iron, uranium and graphite, along with some of the world’s largest reserves of rare-earth elements. These minerals are essential for advanced technologies, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and modern weapons platforms.
Washington’s interest in rare earths has intensified as China continues to dominate global supply and processing. Although only two mines are currently operating in Greenland, some residents say the island has the potential to develop its own mining and processing industry without outside control.
Anxiety has also spread among Inuit communities in the Ilulissat region, which has just emerged from months of winter darkness. Ahead of high-level talks in Washington between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials, local Inuit representatives urged American leaders to take account of the cultural and human consequences of resource-driven policies.
Community leader Karl Sandgreen said decisions about Greenland’s future should prioritise the people who have lived on the island for generations, rather than external powers focused on strategic or economic gain.
Original article
Comments