OSLO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- "Denmark is strong and independent. Greenland is definitely not for sale," said Caroline Johansen, a restaurant worker in Copenhagen. Her voice is calm but firm.
Johansen's words echo the sentiment of many in the Danish capital since the United States has repeatedly signaled its interest in acquiring Greenland.
The world's largest island, which lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and the northernmost point of land in the world.
On the streets of Copenhagen, residents expressed unwavering opposition to what they see as an overreach. Eider Lertxundi said: "We don't want the U.S. interfering in Denmark, any part of Denmark."
Martin Rasmussen, a supermarket manager, could not hold back his anger. "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and we're proud of that. I honestly don't see any reason why the United States should even consider taking territory from there. If that were to happen, it would create a very serious situation," he said.
Lars Hansen, a traveler at Copenhagen Airport, said: "Even if there haven't been direct consequences yet, it has already affected the relationship between the U.S. and Denmark."
Since taking office in January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed takeover attempts of Greenland.
White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said on Wednesday that Trump and his national security team are actively discussing options to acquire Greenland.
She also confirmed in an email to Xinhua that the options under consideration include the use of military force. Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated plans to meet Danish officials next week to discuss the matter.
Danish and Greenlandic government officials and European allies have also criticized the U.S. approach. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any unilateral move against Greenland could undermine NATO ties.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday night that the "immediate and repeated rhetoric" from the United States concerning Greenland is "completely and utterly unacceptable."
On Wednesday, Avaaraq S. Olsen, mayor of Greenland's capital Nuuk, said Trump's plans to acquire Greenland are both offensive and disrespectful.
"We do not want this. We have already made our opinion known. We held the largest demonstration ever in Greenland in spring, strongly rejecting the Americans. And that is still the position of the Greenlandic people," Olsen said, according to Danish broadcaster DR.
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom released a joint statement on Tuesday emphasizing that Greenland's future is for the Danish and Greenlandic people to decide.
Experts say the developments reflect broader European security delimma over the bloc's dependence on Washington.
Rasmus Sinding Sondergaard, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, has told Xinhua that there is nothing new about Trump's interest in gaining control of Greenland. However, following recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela, "it's clearly something that's being taken very seriously, in Denmark and across Europe."
"Denmark and Europe's problem is that they are at the mercy of the American debate and American decisions. Europe has made itself dependent on the United States for its own security. This means the United States holds all the cards, at least in the short term," wrote Sigurd Falkenberg Mikkelsen, head of foreign affairs at Norway's public broadcaster NRK.
The latest developments show that Europe must be prepared for major upheavals ahead, he warned. ■
