US Foreign Policy Impact on Greenlandic Independence

Ever since the lead-up to Greenland being granted self-rule by Denmark in 1979, the country has steadily been on its way towards full independence. It was granted self-government in 2009, and according to the Self-Government Act, Greenland’s government can declare full independence upon approval by a referendum and the Danish parliament. In 2023, an important step towards statehood was taken when a constitution commission presented its proposal, and 2025 polling shows that 84% of Greenlanders support independence. However, US President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has further complicated matters, simultaneously strengthening and weakening the cause for independence. While 2025 data shows 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, Trump’s "America First" initiatives challenge the existing transatlantic order and the post-1945 security relationship between Washington and Copenhagen. If the US is no longer willing to uphold traditional multilateral norms, the nature of the transatlantic relationship in the Arctic may be radically redefined. History shows that for a small country, effective cooperation with bigger states or international organizations is key to successful sovereignty; Iceland is one clear example where the foreign policy has largely revolved around a security relationship with the US. This paper addresses a significant research gap by evaluating how Greenlandic politicians view these prospective foreign policy pillars. Relying on original interviews with Greenlandic politicians, the study explores how Greenlanders view the prospects for statehood and examines how US foreign policy under President Trump affects may affect them. By taking a "Greenlandic starting point," the paper analyzes the tensions within the US-European security sphere, specifically regarding how the Trump 2.0 administration’s initiatives force a rethinking of Arctic defense and the future of the transatlantic alliance.