How Greenland citizens support USA take over
Executive summary
Greenlanders overwhelmingly reject becoming part of the United States and their government has publicly stated it “cannot under any circumstances accept” a U.S. takeover, instead affirming membership in the Danish realm and NATO [1]. Multiple news reports and polls cited by international outlets describe strong Greenlandic opposition and a drift toward Denmark rather than the United States, although precise, island-wide polling figures are variably reported in international coverage [2] [3] [4] [5].
1. Defiant government, clear message — Greenland’s leaders reject annexation
Greenland’s government has explicitly rejected any U.S. attempt to take control and stressed the island is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a NATO member, saying it “cannot under any circumstances accept” a takeover [1], and Greenland’s prime minister has urged that fears of an imminent takeover are unfounded while seeking stronger ties with the U.S. on Greenland’s terms [6]. These official statements frame the local political consensus: cooperation on security or investment may be acceptable, but sovereignty and self-determination are non-negotiable in Nuuk’s public posture [1] [6].
2. What ordinary Greenlanders say — interviews and reportage show near-unanimous resistance
Field reporting and interviews portray broad societal resistance to U.S. control: residents repeatedly answered “No” when asked if they wanted America to take over, with business owners, cultural figures and Inuit leaders warning that American rule would threaten traditions, livelihoods and local decision-making [7] [2]. International coverage finds Greenlanders drawing closer to Denmark in reaction to U.S. takeover talk, signaling that local identity and long-standing political ties strongly influence attitudes [2].
3. Polling and public-opinion signals — majority oppose U.S. control but data caveats exist
Several sources report overwhelming Greenlandic opposition to joining the United States—BBC and other outlets summarize polls showing broad resistance [3] [4], and a widely cited figure of roughly 85% opposition appears in aggregated accounts and encyclopedic summaries [5]. Reporting also notes that while Greenlanders often favor eventual independence from Denmark as a long-term goal, that preference does not translate into support for U.S. annexation [3]. It is important to flag that direct, full-coverage Greenland-wide polling data are unevenly reported in these international pieces, so specific percentages should be read as reported summaries rather than a single island-wide scientific poll available in the referenced material [2] [5].
4. Nuance: openness to security cooperation but rejection of annexation
While Greenlanders and Greenland’s leaders reject U.S. sovereignty, there is reported openness to deeper security and economic ties under existing frameworks: Denmark notes a 1951 treaty that allows expanded U.S. military presence, and some polling of U.S. residents shows more willingness to support additional U.S. bases there than aggressive measures—mirroring an international posture in Nuuk that favors partnership over political transfer [1] [8]. Greenland officials have signaled interest in strengthening ties with the United States while simultaneously rejecting the notion of being “sold” or subsumed into American sovereignty [6] [1].
5. International context and potential fallout that shape Greenlandic attitudes
Greenlandic rejection of U.S. takeover proposals has been reinforced by diplomatic backing from Denmark and European partners who warn that any forced U.S. annexation would gravely damage NATO and Western alliances, a geopolitical framing that bolsters Greenlanders’ preference to remain linked to Denmark rather than become a U.S. possession [9] [10]. Reporting highlights that even if power asymmetries make military action conceivable in theory, Greenlandic leaders and international actors treat such scenarios as unacceptable because of political, legal and alliance consequences [10] [4].