Greenlandians rebuff US union; 85% vote for independence
According to a survey, as much as 85% of the surveyed residents of Greenland oppose joining the USA.
Greenland remains in the spotlight following Donald Trump's statements about its importance for U.S. security. However, as indicated by a survey commissioned by the Danish newspaper "Berlingske," as much as 85% of Greenlanders do not wish to join the United States. Only 6% support this idea, and 9% are undecided, according to Sky News.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasised that political leaders from Europe and beyond support Greenland's current status.
"The clear message from friends in the Nordic countries and Europe, and also outside Europe, is that there must of course be respect for territories and the sovereignty of states," Frederiksen said. She added that this is crucial for the international community built after World War II.
Denmark announced a plan to spend €1.9 billion on strengthening its military presence in the Arctic. Greenland, with an area larger than Mexico and a population of 57,000, gained broad autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence through a referendum. Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has repeatedly emphasised that the island is not for sale, and its future relies on the decisions of its residents.
Source: The survey was conducted from 22nd to 26th January and is based on online interviews with 497 representatively selected citizens of Greenland aged 18 and older. The responses are subject to a statistical uncertainty of 3.1 percentage points.
