A new poll is offering unique insight into how Greenlanders feel about President Donald Trump’s campaign to take over the Danish territory.
The survey — conducted among 610 Greenlanders aged 18 or older by Sune Steffen Hansen, a Danish pollster, for The Copenhagen Post — shows that residents of the Arctic island overwhelmingly reject U.S. control. According to the poll, 76% of residents oppose becoming part of the United States, and just 8% believe it would be beneficial.
The poll also found that a majority of residents expressed concerns about exchanging Denmark’s welfare system for American health care, education and elder care. A mere 3% of Greenlanders hold a “very positive” view of U.S. government-provided benefits, compared to 59% who have a mainly or very negative view of them.
Greenlanders instead look to Europe when asked to choose between strengthening cooperation with the European Union or with the United States, the poll showed. In deciding between the two, 65% believe that closer collaboration with Europeans would be best for Greenland, while 5% believe the same for the United States.
Meanwhile, residents of the territory remain content with remaining under the boundaries of the Kingdom of Denmark, according to the poll. Fifty-one percent think that separating from Denmark would result in a weaker economy, and 62% added that they would not like to leave and become independent.
Looking ahead, 52% of Greenlanders said the island could eventually gain its independence without military or political influence, the poll revealed.
It appears to be one of the first glimpses into how Greenlanders feel about the president’s renewed push to acquire their homeland. A survey from January of last year by Verian, commissioned by the Danish paper Berlingske, also found similar results: 85% of Greenlanders said they do not want their island to join the United States, while only 6% were in favor.
Trump told reporters on Jan. 22 that he would release new details in “two weeks” related to the future of Greenland, one day after he announced a “framework of a deal” with NATO without providing any specifics. That means an announcement could be made by Thursday.
The president called a potential proposal “infinite,” adding that it will be “a deal that’s forever.”
It comes as Trump has faced fierce resistance from officials in both Greenland and Denmark, who have argued that the territory is not for sale. Trump, however, has frequently maintained that ownership over the island, home to critical rare earth minerals, is necessary for national security, while warning against Russia or China occupying it in the future.
Trump told the New York Post late last month that the United States will own parts of land where U.S. bases are located.
“We’ll have everything we want,” Trump said. “We have some interesting talks going on.”
Although Trump has ruled out military force to possess it, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen warned earlier this week that Washington ultimately hopes to control the island.
“The view upon Greenland and the population has not changed: Greenland is to be tied to the U.S. and governed from there,” Nielsen said on Monday, according to Reuters.
The poll was conducted online from Jan. 16–26 and via telephone from Jan. 19-28. It has a maximum margin of error is approximately plus or minus 4 percentage points.
