Incoming US president Donald Trump has repeatedly stated he wants Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Danish Kingdom, to come under US control.
On Tuesday, he said a deal for the US to takeover Greenland "must happen" and refused to rule out military coercion, while his son Don Jr. visited the Arctic territory.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has called for calm and Greenland's government leader Múte Egede has previously said the territory is "not for sale".
“American interests were not put first for long by other administrations, this could be a change in direction. However I hope there will be peace not war,” Richard Butler, a reader of The Local who lives in Copenhagen, wrote in response to our survey asking for your views.
“Greenland could be useful to the US to deter threats from China in coming years, it may be a wise decision for Denmark to approach this from a defense point of view and hand over partially or fully to the US,” he said.
Trump’s suggestion Greenland should be bought or acquired by the US “sounds like a great deal” said Paul, who lives in Odense.
“I believe that the Kingdom of Denmark will not be left at a loss,” he said.
READ ALSO: How easily could Greenland break away from or be sold by Denmark?
“Strategically, it doesn't seem necessary— the US already has a major base on Greenland,” pointed out Gavin Ivester in Charlottenlund.
“In terms of behavior and intent, it's troubling. He's expressed interest in Canada, Panama, and Greenland and even said he will rename the Gulf of Mexico. He does it in an informal way that is easy to mock, but he is about to have command of the world's most powerful military,” Ivester said.
Vince, an American of Danish descent, described the situation as “standard nonsense from Trump.”
“Threatening allies who have been strong supporters of the US is totally unacceptable,” he added.
“It reeks of colonialism and fascism. I’m embarrassed and alarmed,” added Melia Svendsen in Billund.
INTERVIEW: 'Everything the US could want from Greenland, they already have'
Ray Nance, who lives in north Zealand town Helsinge, called Trump an “idiot, a bully, and a compulsive liar.”
But the incoming president’s threats against Denmark may need to be taken seriously, he also pointed out.
“He may be serious, but he also may be using this to deflect attention from other problems, such as his legal issues and the things he campaigned on, such as fuel and food prices,” he said.
Trump’s comments should certainly be seen as more than just empty threats or a negotiating tactic, warned Michael Bailey in South Jutland.
“I realize that Europeans see Trump as a bag full of hot air, and that's a fair assessment - but he also has a tight control over the Republican Party (and thus the government as a whole). He has kept enough of his promises that we shouldn't just dismiss this bluster as an empty threat,” Bailey wrote.
“The EU needs to stop seeing the US as an ‘unpredictable ally’ and start seeing it as a ‘potential threat’. Trump has already revealed his affection for Putin. If Europe isn't prepared, they are going to be facing enemies closing in from both the East and the West,” he said.
Some American readers who do not live in Denmark also took time to respond to our survey.
“I am American. I did not vote for Donald Trump and I do not support him. Trump’s rhetoric regarding Greenland and Denmark is inappropriate and undiplomatic. The United States needs to be reminded that Denmark is an ally and a full member of NATO. In this regard, I feel that Denmark and Greenland deserve an apology from Trump,” said Nathan Graf of Tampa, Florida.
Other American readers were more directly critical of their president-elect.
“I’m half Danish and half American. I did not vote for Trump and totally believe he is a complete idiot and I don’t like the idea of him even considering acquiring Greenland. He makes me so angry,” said Dina Werdelin, who lives in the United States and travels to Denmark frequently to visit family.
Becca, who lives in Copenhagen, got in touch to tell us she is “annoyed at Trump.”
“He sounds just like Putin or a bratty toddler who is going to try to take whatever he wants by force,” she wrote.
“Trump has no understanding of real business interests and absolutely no understanding of successful diplomacy,” said Reed Scherer, an American with family on Danish island Als.
“The main reason Biden's poll numbers were low was that people thought he was boring. Too many didn't vote for Harris because of her gender and color. By contrast, they find Trump ‘exciting’,” Scherer wrote.
“What they didn't vote for was a new 18th century style colonial expansion and war within NATO!”, he said.
Jon Ste, who lives in Aarhus, said he had not expected Trump to revive his designs on control over Greenland.
“Denmark and Greenland are not typically in the American spotlight, so hearing about a presidential interest in ‘purchasing’ Greenland was startling,” he wrote.
Alex, who lives in Zealand, was the most weary-sounding of the readers who got in touch with us.
“I left America to get away from this dumbass but it’s clear I’ll never escape him,” he said.
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