Massive demonstrations organized by Greenlandic associations have been planned across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest US President Donald Trump’s plans to take over the Arctic island.
The aim of the protests is “to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights,” said Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, on its website.
Where are the protests planned?
The rally in Copenhagen is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT) and end about an hour later outside the US Embassy in the Danish capital. Protests are also planned in the Danish cities of Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense.
The demonstration in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), according to the organizers, who say it is “against the United States’ illegal plans to take control of Greenland.” Demonstrators are set to march to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags.
At least 900 people in Greenland said on its Facebook page that they planned to participate in the event. The territory’s total population is about 57,000.
Dispute over Greenland intensifies
Tensions around Greenland have risen this month amid repeated insistence by US President Donald Trump that he wants the US to take control of Greenland.
On Friday, Trump warned that he might impose tariffs on countries that oppose his plans to take over the self-governing Arctic island, which is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The protests are set to occur as a bipartisan delegation of US Congress members visits Copenhagen on a two-day trip to show support for Denmark and Greenland.
The delegation says that the American people do not share the territorial ambitions of the US president.
Europeans have also shown support for Greenland in a military reconnaissance mission that includes officers from several countries, among them Germany.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
