The relationship between Denmark and the United States has always been great.

Americans and Danes have been allies since WWII, sometimes in a rather exclusive way that tends to cut out others.

It’s no mystery that other European countries haven’t always appreciated the international position of the Kingdom, which has often been closer to the American friends than to its European neighbors.

Among the people coming here to study, Americans hold the top spot, with 3,451 students arriving in Denmark in 2024.

According to Danes Worldwide, the organization of Danes living abroad, the U.S. is the top country from which Danish emigrants leave (19% of them), followed by Great Britain and Australia.

All this is to say: the friendship and closeness between the two countries began in politics and has extended beyond, involving both societies.

This is why it’s easy to forget the last large demonstration against the U.S. in Copenhagen.

While small organizations have held protests over the years, it seems the last time a large crowd of ordinary citizens gathered in a sensitive place like the U.S. embassy was in 2023, during the Iraq War.

That long tradition was broken on Saturday, when several hundred people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen on Saturday to protest the United States’ growing interest in Greenland.

The demonstration came just one day after Vance visited Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, where he criticized Denmark’s handling of Arctic security and suggested Greenland would be better off under American protection.

The protest was organized on social media and attracted both citizens of Greenland and Denmark, many holding signs with slogans like “Back Off, USA,” “Greenland Not for Sale,” and “Make America Go Away.”

Protesters accused the US of interfering in Greenlandic affairs and warned against any attempt to assert control over the Arctic territory.

The atmosphere was peaceful, with speakers and attendees expressing their concern over the militarization of the region and what they see as a pattern of U.S. overreach.

Voices from the crowd

Jørgen, a Danish cartoonist, was critical of the Danish government’s handling of the situation.

“Absolutely not. The government should be doing much more. I was surprised that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen even used words like ‘sovereignty’ and ‘territory’ — I didn’t think those were part of her vocabulary,” he told The Copenhagen Post, adding:

“Until now, her statements have mostly expressed satisfaction with American interests. We should be taking this much more seriously.” 

Bernd and Marianne, a pensioner couple from North Zealand, who have spent time in Greenland and have been active in solidarity movements, said the U.S. approach risks destabilizing a region already facing the effects of climate change and geopolitical competition.

“There’s a lot of fear in Denmark right now — fear of military escalation, of disinformation, and of what’s happening in Ukraine,” Marianne said.

“People are scared. Militarizing the Arctic is the last thing we need during a climate crisis.” 

Still, they expressed some trust in the Danish government’s approach.

“Prime Minister Frederiksen and the foreign minister are competent and connected — we’re in a good place with the right people,” Bernd noted.

“But Denmark’s attitude is usually non-militaristic — maybe even a bit ostrich-like. We tend to avoid things until they nearly stomp on us.” 

They criticized what they called “theatrics” of recent U.S. rhetoric.

“Trump and his allies are trying to kick a door that’s already open — the U.S. has long been welcome in Greenland. So what’s the point of all this?” 

An escalating situation

Over the last few days, speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump confirmed that he had held conversations about annexing Greenland.

“We’ll get Greenland. Yes, 100 percent,” he said, adding:

“There is a good possibility we can do it without military force, but I’m not ruling anything out.” 

Greenland’s newly elected Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, responded directly to Trump’s latest comments on Facebook:

“Let me be clear: The US will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We determine our own future. It is through these values that we must clearly, distinctly, and calmly show the American president that Greenland is ours. That was the case yesterday. That is the case today. And that is the case in the future.”