Greenlanders warn US relationship will take years to fix as Trump signs Arctic deal

Greenlanders have warned the country’s relationship with the US could take years to fix, and remain distrustful of President Donald Trump, despite a newly agreed deal.Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen signed the Arctic security deal with the US president and Mette Frederiksen, prime minister of Denmark, while the three leaders are in New York for the UN General Assembly Tuesday. Former Greenland MP Tillie Martinussen, who lives in Nuuk, told The Independent: “We are cautiously optimistic because our own politicians are saying that it will be a good deal for Europe and for NATO. We trust them.”However, Martinussen added there was still a great deal of anger and uncertainty in the country, stressing trust had been lost between the two countries after months of threatening and aggressive rhetoric from the US president. “It was 75 years of history together that were shattered,” she said. “And we probably will have to work another 75 years to get that trust back.”Former Greenland MP Tillie Martinussen says Greenlanders are reassured by the fact their own leaders have a part in the process (Tillie Martinussen)The new agreement is designed to strengthen security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic Area, regions that are crucial to the defence of North America.Julie Rademacher, member of the organising group of Support Greenland, said she felt relieved that the three leaders are finally sitting down and talking, following a diplomatic and democratic process. However she added there were mixed feelings on the streets of Nuuk on the eve of the signing, with some Greenlanders excited and hopeful, while others were angry and uncertain.She said that many questions still remain and she hopes that the signing of the agreement will provide greater clarity for the people of Greenland.“Are they going to be soldiers and streets again? Do we lose power now or do we still have influence on our own territory? What about our right self-determination – will that be respected? If the Americans are coming and opening bases again, what kind of agreements can we expect?“What will Greenland gain from it? And will they stay away from our culture and language or will they try to influence society, as they have done the last one and a half years?” Donald Trump spent months applying pressure on Greenland, and posted AI images claiming it as US territory (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, has a population of around 57,000, of which approximately 89 per cent are Indigenous Inuit.In January, Trump insisted that the world is not secure until US has “Complete and Total Control of Greenland”, and later refused to rule out using military force to seize the territory. The new security deal appears to be a significant step back.Frederiksen said the agreement “recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination”.Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday the US had entered into “an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns”.Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit Qoornoq in Greenland earlier in September (Reuters)“At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America.”Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said it was “encouraging” that they were about to enter into an agreement that “will ensure and strengthen the security of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, the United States, and the Western Alliance”. “The agreement recognizes Greenland's interests and our place in international cooperation. It is to the benefit of us all,” he added. Nielsen later wrote in an Instagram post the agreement will ensure security in the Arctic and North Atlantic and recognises the independence of the Greenlandic people and their right to self-determination.As he left for New York on Sunday, the prime minister added in a separate post that he is aware that there is worry and fear at home in Greenland and that he would insist that they are met with respect.