The information that Donald Trump Jr was about to go to Nuuk felt like a flashback to virtually six years in the past, when his father, Donald Trump, famously floated the concept of shopping for Greenland. On the time, I had simply moved again to Nuuk after ending movie faculty in Denmark. I keep in mind engaged on the manufacturing of a section for a journey sequence by the comic Conan O’Brien. He got here to Nuuk to movie an episode poking enjoyable on the thought of Trump shopping for us.
This time, there’s no late-night comic in sight, and the following president of the USA has simply refused to rule out utilizing navy drive to take management of my nation. As a substitute of poking enjoyable on the newest US intervention, I discovered myself in my kitchen with 4 different ladies, planning an indication towards Denmark’s apply of eradicating Inuit youngsters from their households.
Rumours had been already spreading about Trump Jr’s go to. Some mentioned he had been noticed strolling by means of city with Greenland’s international affairs minister. That turned out to be false, however it didn’t cease the Danish media from bombarding me with messages. “What do you think about Donald Trump Jr’s visit to Nuuk?” all of them requested.
At first, we laughed. One in every of us joked: “Is he single?” We Googled him and scrolled by means of headlines about scandals and controversies – one thing a few vaccine conspiracy concept, looking trophies and political interventions. He didn’t appear significantly fascinating, and but his presence right here felt oddly vital.
On a critical observe, the go to served as a stark reminder of one thing essential: Greenland issues to the world’s largest powers. The nation’s strategic significance stems from its location within the Arctic, internet hosting key navy bases and priceless pure sources, and its function in rising world commerce routes as local weather breakdown opens up beforehand inaccessible areas. The US, China, Canada and Russia are all watching us. This can be a actuality we can’t ignore.
Paradoxically, Donald Trump Sr might have accomplished us a favour again in 2019 when he publicly expressed curiosity in shopping for Greenland. It shone an unprecedented world highlight on our nation. Now, his son’s go to has reignited that spotlight. And whereas I don’t consider for a second that the Trump household has Greenland’s greatest pursuits at coronary heart, this worldwide consideration presents a possibility for our independence motion.
I’ve obtained numerous messages from all over the world from individuals I’ve by no means met, urging me: “Don’t make any deals with the Trumps.” Whereas I admire their concern, the underlying tone is frustratingly condescending. It’s as in the event that they assume we, as Inuit, are oblivious to the complexities of worldwide politics. Let me be clear: we aren’t naive. Greenland has competent leaders who’re absolutely conscious of what’s at stake. Nobody is about to unload our land for an American journey – or a minimum of, that’s what I select to consider.
However right here’s what I ponder: do individuals exterior Greenland even realise we’re nonetheless ruled by Denmark? Do they know that our political panorama is primarily socialist, with a couple of socially liberal voices? Do they perceive the values that information us as a individuals? One in every of these is a dedication to generosity and sharing that values collective wellbeing over particular person prosperity – akin to when a hunter efficiently brings again a catch and the meals is distributed among the many complete group moderately than being stored for private acquire. They’re ideas that stand in distinction to the individualistic and profit-driven ethos usually related to US and western cultures.
I think the reply to all these questions is “no”.
What frustrates me much more is the selective outrage. The US already has a navy presence in Greenland. Its base in Pituffik (beforehand Thule) was established in the course of the second world battle, with out the consent of Inuit individuals, after a Danish ambassador unilaterally “leased” our land to the US. That colonial overreach has by no means been correctly addressed.
So, when Donald Trump Jr mentioned after his go to that individuals in Greenland are uninterested in being “treated like second- or third-class citizens” by Denmark, I couldn’t disagree. It’s true. Denmark’s refusal to take part in a reconciliation fee again in 2014 was a missed alternative. The cracks in our relationship are widening, and Greenland is steadily transferring in the direction of independence. In 2023, for instance, Greenland’s authorities offered its first draft structure.
What the Trump Jr go to has proven me is that Denmark’s grip on Greenland is slipping. It has been breaking information on most of Denmark’s TV channels. Its makes an attempt to maintain us in test – politically, economically and socially – are now not working as they as soon as did. And whereas the motives of out of doors powers such because the US might not align with our personal, their consideration does give us leverage.
Let me be clear: Greenland is just not on the market. However nor are we proud of the established order. Our goals of independence are usually not simply goals; they’re plans in movement. And each time the world seems our approach, we have now a possibility to inform our story on our personal phrases. For that, I’m grateful – even to Donald Trump Jr.
