On the Day of the Property Controversy... Greenlandic Lawmaker: "I Don't Want to Be Danish or American" [Trump X Greenland]

② [Interview] Danish Parliament Member Aaja Chemnitz
Member of Greenland's Leading Party IA
"Greenland Is Not for Sale," She Clearly States
Close Relations with Denmark, the US, and the EU Are Important

Editor's NoteGreenland, a frozen land with a population of about 56,000, is rapidly emerging as a new arena for power competition. As climate change melts the glaciers covering Greenland, the Arctic sea routes have opened, and the extraction of underground resources buried nearby has become possible, increasing both military and economic value. When U.S. President Donald Trump openly revealed his territorial expansion ambitions to acquire Danish Greenland, Denmark responded by pledging to invest 3 trillion won in Arctic defense spending. The Greenlandic people's desire for independence is more heightened than ever. Ahead of the early general election in March, we examine Greenland's political situation and the intentions of the world powers surrounding it.

"The future is a matter for the people of Greenland to decide. We do not want to be Danes or Americans. We want to live as Greenlanders."

Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenland-born member of the Danish Parliament, said in an interview with Asia Economy that the Greenlanders' opposition to the Trump administration's plan to purchase Greenland is strong.

The Danish Parliament has 179 members. 175 are elected from mainland Denmark, and 2 each from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Born in 1977, Chemnitz first entered the Danish Parliament in 2015. Since last year, she has served as chairperson of the Greenland Committee within the Danish Parliament.

Aaja Chemnitz, member of the Greenlandic autonomous territory party 'Inuit Ataqatigiit'. Danish Parliament website

Greenland also has its own parliament. The party to which Chemnitz belongs, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), won the 2021 election and became Greenland's leading party. The current autonomous prime minister, M?te Egede, is a member of this party. The party's name means "United People." Human rights are a core value, and it leans left politically. It was founded in 1978 with the main goal of Greenlandic independence.

Greenland, with a population of less than 60,000, has attracted worldwide attention because U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his intention to purchase Greenland even before taking office. Greenland, the world's largest island, is rich in rare underground resources and is strategically located connecting the Arctic route and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a key point for military and trade.

Chemnitz strongly opposed the Trump administration's plan to purchase Greenland, stating, "Greenland has made it very clear that it is not for sale." Regarding Donald Trump Jr.'s visit to Greenland, she said, "Many people viewed it critically," and reported that the vast majority of local residents responded negatively.

However, Chemnitz said that Greenland remains open to cooperation with the United States. She said, "Just because we do not want to be Danes or Americans does not mean that close relations with neighboring countries or like-minded countries are unimportant."

On the 26th of last month, a protest against the United States' purchase of Greenland was held in Denmark. The banner read, "Crush Danish imperialism! Freedom for Greenland!" Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Regarding specific cooperation measures, Chemnitz emphasized, "We already maintain good cooperative relations with the United States and can expand this in various fields such as education and mineral investment." She also said, "We want to keep the Arctic region a (militarily) low-tension area," adding, "If there are security concerns, it is necessary to consider possible solutions." Currently, NATO troops, including U.S. military personnel, are stationed in Greenland.

According to the Greenland Self-Government Act enacted in 2009, Greenland can decide on independence through a referendum. Chemnitz said, "The majority of Greenlanders want independence someday," but also added, "At the same time, we want to maintain close relations and strengthen cooperation with Denmark, the European Union (EU), and the United States." Greenland was a Danish colony for 300 years and was incorporated into Denmark in 1953. In 2009, it established its own government and judicial and legislative bodies. Defense and foreign affairs are still decided by Denmark.