Greenland is a self governing territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes, as well as Greenland, Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

Although we think of it as one island – it actually shares a border with Canada through the uninhabited Hans Island.

Greenland, in the southern part, was settled by Vikings in the 9th century, as they did in Iceland, but by the late 15th century it was mostly populated by Inuit. The Dorset, a Paleo-Eskimo culture, had lived there at various times prior to that.

Today it has a population of about 56,583 (2022),and is the least densely populated country in the world.

Both Norway and Denmark laid claim to Greenland and that dispute was eventually decided by the  Permanent Court of International Justice, which decided against Norway in 1933.

During World War 2 Denmark was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany and at this point in its history, Greenland severed links with Denmark. It was also when the US first established a military base there from 1941 – 1945.

Today Greenland whilst progressing gradually to independence, is a self governing territory of Denmark. A referendum in 1979 established the desire of the people of Greenland to be independent with the Danish King as the Head of State. Its society is a modern welfare state. In 2012, Greenlandic was declared the sole official language of Greenland.

150 US military personnel are based in Greenland at the Pituffik Space Base. This is part of a defence agreement between the US and the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland, Denmark, and the US are all members of NATO. The base is home to a substantial portion of the global network of missile warning sensors of Space Delta 4, and space surveillance and space control sensors of Space Delta 2, providing space awareness and advanced missile detection capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Space Force, and joint partners.

After kidnapping the President of Venezuela in an military operation where over 100 Venezuelans were killed, President Trump declared that Greenland would be a future target. Now this could all be to distract from the Epstein Files, the sex trafficker who was a close friend of the American President. It could be that Trump, found guilty of 34 felonies, is merely wanting to strip the self governing Greenland of its valuable extractable resources. In it all both the President and his cadre of advisors have treated the people of Greenland with total disrespect.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has welcomed a joint statement from European leaders saying the territory “belongs to its people”.

Statement by President Macron of France, Chancellor Merz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain, Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark on Greenland.

Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security.

NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO.

Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.

The United States is an essential partner in this endeavour, as a NATO ally and through the defence agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951.

Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.

UK Prime Minister Starmer, spoke with President Trump on 7 January. The UK had joined forces with the US to enable the seizure of an empty oil tanker between Scotland and Iceland which had a Russian flag painted on its side. Apparently other topics discussed were Ukraine, Venezuela, and Greenland.

Wick airfield was used by the US in the recent operation and of course Scotland has Trident based at Clyde Naval Base on the west coast of Scotland. The base consists of two facilities — Faslane Naval Base on Gare Loch near Helensburgh, and an ordnance depot with 16 concrete bunkers set into a hillside at Coulport. It is operated by the Royal Navy but the missiles are manufactured in the United States. The warheads are produced by the British Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Starmer has a subservient close relationship with Trump. History has not been kind to a former UK Prime Minister who had appeased an aggressor. It’s a pathway Starmer has also chosen to go down.

Fiona Grahame