With the eyes of the world focused on Greenland as the Trump administration continues with its aggressive and bullying campaign – including such high-profile stunts as the recent visit by Vice President Vance to a US base on the island after local people made it quite clear that his wife was not welcome at a traditional dog sled race – aimed at replacing Danish rule with US annexation, overriding the people’s desire for independence, leading Greenlandic politicians have expressed their wish to develop greater cooperation with China.
Reporting from the capital Nuuk on March 28, the Xinhua News Agency said that they expressed interest in deepening cooperation with China in areas such as trade, fisheries, and sustainable development while highlighting the potential for a free trade agreement between the two sides.
Vivian Motzfeldt, the incoming foreign minister of Greenland’s new autonomous government, told Xinhua that strengthening ties with China will be one of her priorities. “My trip to China in 2023 was memorable,” she said, noting that China is one of Greenland’s largest seafood markets. “China is very important to us, and we are eager to strengthen our cooperation.”
Following a general election on March 11, taking into account the critical situation facing their country, four of the five political parties that secured seats agreed to form a unity government on March 28. Together, Demokraatit, Siumut, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), and Atassut hold 23 out of 31 seats in the Inatsisartut, Greenland’s parliament.
The above-mentioned report is one of a number that Xinhua has recently carried from Nuuk. On March 24, under the headline, ‘Feature: “We don’t want to be Americans” – Greenlanders’, Xinhua reported:
“‘That day, the entire city of Nuuk stood united!’ said Gustav Petersen, a member of Naleraq, the second-largest party in Greenland’s parliament, referring to the anti-US protest held on March 15. [Naleraq won the second largest number of seats in the election but was the only party that has declined to join the new government.]
“According to local media, more than 1,000 people participated in the protest – an impressive turnout for Nuuk, a city with a population of just 15,000. Carrying banners reading ‘We are not for sale,’ ‘Greenland for Greenlanders,’ and ‘Make America Go Away,’ demonstrators marched from the city centre to the US Consulate in Nuuk, sending a clear message of opposition to Washington’s ambitions.
“Petersen said although Greenlanders had varying political preferences during the March 11 parliamentary elections, there was one point of unanimous agreement: ‘We don’t want to be Americans! The United States cannot treat Greenland as a commodity to be bought at will.’
“The US Consulate in Nuuk… remained shuttered when Xinhua reporters visited. ‘On the day of our protest, it was the same – completely deserted,’ Petersen said.
“Standing outside the consulate, Nuuk resident Nikolaj Davidson, who works at a slaughterhouse, voiced his opposition to Trump’s proposal. ‘I don’t want to be American, and neither do my family nor friends,’ he said. ‘Almost everyone in my family disagrees with Trump. From what I know, the vast majority of Greenlanders do not want Greenland to become part of the United States. The American healthcare and welfare systems are not appealing to us.’
“Davidson said that Trump’s main motivation is Greenland’s rich natural resources. ‘Just like the US government has done before, Trump might look for various pretexts to legitimise the takeover of Greenland,’ he warned.”
The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency. We also embed the video of a speech on the current situation regarding Greenland by Lotte Rørtoft Madsen, the President of Denmark’s Communist Party (KP – Kommunistisk Partis). Lotte was speaking in a March 30 webinar entitled ‘Trump’s Aggression in the Americas – the return of the Monroe Doctrine?’ organised by the International Manifesto Group. You can watch the entire discussion at https://youtube.com/live/cKdBHeyBtZU.
Greenlandic political leaders looks to enhance cooperation with China
NUUK, Greenland, March 28 (Xinhua) — Greenland’s political leaders on Friday expressed interest in deepening cooperation with China in areas such as trade, fisheries, and sustainable development while highlighting the potential for a free trade agreement between the two sides.
Vivian Motzfeldt, the incoming foreign minister of Greenland’s new autonomous government, told Xinhua that strengthening ties with China will be one of her priorities.
“My trip to China in 2023 was memorable,” she said, noting that China is one of Greenland’s largest seafood markets. “China is very important to us, and we are eager to strengthen our cooperation.”
Motzfeldt said her tasks include boosting exports, enhancing cooperation in the fisheries sector, and pursuing a free trade agreement with China.
Aqqalu Jerimiassen, chairman of the Atassut party and a member of the Greenlandic Parliament, shared similar views based on his visit to China in 2018.
“I’ve been to Beijing, Guangzhou and several other cities,” he told Xinhua. “I was very impressed during my visit to China. I was particularly interested in how we can build good cooperation with Chinese enterprises and authorities.”
On Friday, Greenland announced the formation of a new autonomous government in Nuuk, the capital. At a ceremony held at the Katuaq Cultural Center, four political parties, representing 23 of the 31 seats in Greenland’s parliament, signed a coalition agreement to establish the new autonomous government.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 when it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1979, it gained home rule, expanding its autonomy, while Denmark retained control over foreign affairs and defense policy.
