Recent polling indicates that nearly half of the Danish population perceives the United States as a significant threat to their country, outpacing concerns over North Korea and Iran. This data, collected by YouGov and shared exclusively with the Guardian, highlights growing tensions between Denmark, Greenland, and the US, particularly following Donald Trump’s repeated comments about acquiring Greenland.
The autonomous territory, home to 57,000 residents and historically a Danish colony, remains under Denmark’s control regarding foreign and security policies. Trump’s interest in Greenland comes during a period when there is increasing momentum for its independence movement.
Conducted between January 15 and 22 with over 1,000 participants, the poll revealed that 46% of Danes see the US as “a very big threat” or “a fairly big threat.” In contrast, only 44% and 40% respectively view North Korea and Iran as threats. Notably, the perception of Russia as a threat remains the highest, with 86% of respondents indicating a sense of danger from Moscow.
The survey also found that 78% of Danes oppose the idea of Greenland being sold to the US. Furthermore, 72% believe the final decision regarding Greenland’s status should rest with the territory itself, rather than Denmark.
These findings emerge as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen embarked on a diplomatic effort in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels to garner support against Trump’s threats concerning Greenland, following what was described as a “horrendous” phone call with the US president. Frederiksen emphasized the need for European unity in the face of shifting US relations, stating, “I want to ensure that all of Europe stands together.”
Trump has maintained that controlling Greenland—a notion he equates with economic security—is an “absolute necessity.” He has previously described discussions about purchasing the territory as akin to a “large real estate deal.” Alongside its oil and gas potential, Greenland is also attracting global interest due to its supply of critical raw materials for green technology.
In a related survey conducted earlier this week, 85% of Greenlanders expressed opposition to the idea of their island becoming part of the US. This poll, carried out by Verian for the Danish paper Berlingske, indicated that only 6% of Greenlanders were in favor of joining the US, while 9% remained undecided.
Credit: The Guardian
