Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute Egede has emphasised his desire to pursue independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler.
He stated this during his New Year speech, marking a significant change in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island’s future.
In his speech, Egede emphasised his desire to improve Greenland’s collaboration with other nations, following remarks made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump indicating his desire for “ownership and control” of the territory.
Mr Egede said it was time to take a step and shape the future, also
with regard to who the country will cooperate closely with, and who its trading partners will be.
An independence movement has gained traction in Greenland in recent years in part due to revelations of misconduct by Danish authorities during the 20th century, including an involuntary birth control campaign launched in the 1960s.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 but is now a self-governing territory of Denmark and in 2009 achieved the right to claim independence through a vote. In 2023, Greenland’s government presented its first draft constitution.
“The history and current conditions have shown that our cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark has not succeeded in creating full equality,” Egede said.
“It is now time for our country to take the next step. Like other countries in the world, we must work to remove the obstacles to cooperation – which we can describe as the shackles of colonialism – and move forward,” he stated.
He added that it was up to the people of Greenland to decide on independence but did not say when a vote could be held.
While a majority of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants support independence, there is division over the timing and potential impact on living standards.
Greenland’s government has twice rejected offers by Trump to purchase the island, in 2019 and again last year, with Egede asserting that “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.”
Despite the wealth of mineral, oil, and natural gas resources, Greenland’s economy remains fragile, heavily dependent on fishing and annual grants from Denmark.
Greenland is due to hold parliamentary elections before April 6.
