US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Danish officials next week to discuss the fate of Greenland - a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that President Donald Trump says he needs for national security.
The vast island finds itself in the eye of a geopolitical storm with Trump's name on it and people here are clearly unnerved.
Yet when you fly in, it looks so peaceful. Ice and snow-capped mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, interrupted here and there by glittering fjords - all between the Arctic and the Atlantic Oceans.
It is said to sit on top of the world; much of it above the Arctic Circle.
Greenland is nine times the size of the UK but it only has 57,000 inhabitants, most of them indigenous Inuit.
People in Nuuk, the capital, appear anxious as they go about their daily routines. Parents drag their children home on sledges, while students navigate brightly-lit malls. Few wanted to discuss their worries about Trump’s presidency.
One pensioner, however, echoed the sentiments of many, striking his walking stick down as he declared the US must never plant its flag in Greenland. Another anonymous local confessed she was “scared to death” of the potential for a military takeover, having witnessed the US military actions in other countries.
A pottery-maker named Pilu Chemnitz shared, “I think we are all very tired of the US president. We have always lived a quiet and peaceful life here.” She acknowledged the traumatic history with Denmark but emphasized that now, they just want to be left alone.
Despite a significant majority of Greenlanders opposing US claims to their land, there remains a strong desire for independence from Denmark, albeit with an acknowledgment of the economic support that Denmark provides.
Greenland's relationship with the US has been tense, particularly after Trump expressed interest in acquiring the territory, citing national security concerns among other motives. However, many local leaders argue that Greenland is not for sale but open to business partnerships on their own terms.
Opposition MP Pele Broberg contended that misinformation has heightened fears about Trump's intentions, pushing for an understanding of Greenland's potential in international trade rather than viewing it solely as a pawn in a geopolitical strategy.
As discussions loom between US and Danish officials, local leaders like Pipaluk Lynge-Rasmussen advocate for making their voices heard internationally while maintaining their autonomy amidst the complex dynamics at play.
With the Arctic becoming a strategic priority amid tensions with Russia and China, the once stable geopolitical atmosphere in Greenland may be reshaping, presenting challenges and opportunities alike for its inhabitants.
