There is a lot of attention on Greenland around the world, and it is important to seize the moment, says Chairman of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee, Pipaluk Lynge (IA).
It is important to seize the historical moment we are in now. This is according to the chairman of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee in Inatsisartut, Pipaluk Lynge (IA), who is on the committee’s first trip in this electoral period.
The committee members have spent a week in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and the Belgian capital, Brussels, where they have visited, among other things, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense, PET, the European Parliament and NATO.
– It is important right now to get around to different countries and use our voice as clearly and distinctly as we can. If we do not seize the opportunities that exist now, the opportunities will slowly close. So it is really important that we seize the moment, says Pipaluk Lynge over the phone from Brussels.
The US’s desire for Greenlandic control
On December 23, 2024, Donald Trump stated that he believes the United States should have ownership of Greenland. Since then, the message has been repeated repeatedly by both himself and his staff.
On January 7, Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Nuuk, which brought the world’s attention to Greenland.
The same day, the incoming president said he would not rule out using economic or military force to gain control of Greenland – despite the fact that the US and Denmark are both members of NATO and despite the fact that the US has had a military presence in Greenland since World War II.
On March 13, President Trump was asked if he would annex Greenland. He replied: – I think it will happen.
On March 15, Nuumiut took to the streets in a demonstration against the United States’ desire to take over Greenland. Possibly the largest demonstration in the country’s history.
After much debate and warnings of demonstrations, the wife of US Vice President J.D. Vance canceled a planned visit to Sisimiut. Instead, the couple landed at Pituffik Space Base on March 28, where a press conference was held.
On April 10, The New York Times revealed that the American strategy was now to persuade the Greenlanders to become part of the United States – including through soft power and private investment.
On May 6, the Wall Street Journal revealed that US President Donald Trump has ordered the heads of intelligence agencies such as the CIA, NSA and DIA to increase intelligence gathering in Greenland. Among other things, the order called for a list of Greenlanders who could help the US achieve its goals. This led several experts and countries to suspect US espionage in Greenland.
The moment she is referring to is the great attention paid to Greenland, which has come in the wake of Donald Trump’s repeated statements about Greenland. The American president believes that the United States needs Greenland for security reasons.
The president has not ruled out using economic or military force to gain control of Greenland.
And although Pipaluk Lynge has previously railed against the statements of Donald Trump, there is nothing so wrong that it is not good for something, she says.
– We are welcomed with open arms. You can really feel that people outside Greenland want to hear our ideas and visions for the future, precisely because there is so much focus on Trump. Our allies want to listen to our own statements, dreams and visions for the future, she says.
Same values as us
The IA politician also served as chair of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee in the last election period. She can clearly see the difference in the attention that Greenlandic politicians receive today.
– We get a lot of speaking time and many doors are opened. The most important thing is that the countries we cooperate with have the same values as us when it comes to human rights, green growth, climate issues and welfare societies.
– So it’s just a matter of getting into work clothes, says Pipaluk Lynge.
In addition to Pipaluk Lynge, Pele Broberg (N), Justus Hansen (D), Nivi Rosing (IA) and Erik Jensen (S) are members of the committee. Pele Broberg will not participate in the trip.