“It felt like we were all just waiting to be invaded.” A Greenlandic mother's message to Trump
US President Donald Trump's plans to annex Greenland have sparked fear and outrage among residents of the self-governing island within the Kingdom of Denmark. With a population of around 56,000 people, Greenland is becoming the focus of controversial geopolitical interest as the local community expresses fears of possible outside interference.
Trump's plans to annex Greenland have sparked fear and outrage PHOTO: X/ @PtisiMagazine
Aviaja Fontain, a 40-year-old mother from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, says that Trump's announcements were perceived as a direct threat. “In the first few days after Trump spoke on the subject, it was scary. It felt like we were all just waiting to be invaded. I kept looking towards the harbor to see if the US Navy had arrived or if the planes were bringing in American soldiers.”said Aviaja.
The strategic arguments of the White House
The White House claims that the president's intention is based on strategic reasons. Anna Kelly, the Trump administration's deputy press secretary, explained in an email to Business Insider: “Many of this president's predecessors recognized the strategic logic of acquiring Greenland, but only President Trump had the courage to pursue it seriously. As the president has said, NATO becomes much more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States, and Greenlanders would be better served if they were protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region.”.
Fears of a new form of colonization
But most of the island's inhabitants see the proposal with suspicion. Aviaja Fontain warns that a possible annexation by the US could deepen the historical traumas caused by Danish colonization: “There is generational trauma from when we were first colonized. If we are colonized by the US, there will be even more trauma. What will happen to our children in the future?”
She also notes the increasingly visible presence of Danish officers training in the Arctic region, perceived by the local community as a sign of tension. “Many of us love nature. It's important to be able to walk in the mountains, where it's quiet and peaceful. I'm afraid that Trump will try to look for rare minerals and oil, and all that will disappear”Aviaja added.
Despite her fears, the woman hopes that Greenland will be able to gain independence from Denmark, but only when the island is ready. “I think we all want independence, but at the right time. Maybe in my lifetime. You never know what will happen in the future”she said.
Political tensions and the desire for peace
Trump's repeated statements have also raised international concerns. The US president has threatened to impose additional tariffs on European states, including Denmark, if a consensus is not reached on the purchase of Greenland.
The inhabitants of the island, however, demand the preservation of a peaceful climate. “We're human. We have rights. We have a culture. You can't just take that and buy it“, concluded Aviaja Fontain.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only one in five Americans support Trump's plans, and most Democrats and Republicans oppose the use of military force to annex the island. Despite this, on January 20, Donald Trump published on his Truth Social network a photo in which he appears with the US flag in his hand, with Marco Rubio and JD Vance, next to a sign that reads: “Greenland, US territory, 2026″.
