The duel of the century: a massive polar bear versus Donald Trump Jr. does battle.
If the latest actions of Denmark’s king are any indication, the United States may be in for a challenge.
King Frederik, who took over the Danish throne following Queen Margrethe II’s resignation last year, has made the first change to the royal seal in over five centuries, and experts see this as a clear message to Greenland, and maybe even the United States with reference to President Trump.
“In a New Year’s message, the monarch emphasized unity among all Danes, and expressed a shared commitment to advancing the interests of the Kingdom of Denmark, extending its reach all the way to Greenland.”
Starting January 1st, Denmark’s coat of arms was updated to give the Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands their own separate quadrants, featuring a bear and a ram. According to the royal household’s clarification, it was cited that the polar bear was originally designated as Greenland’s heraldic emblem back in 1666 under King Frederik the 3rd.
They are “a declaration and a symbolic gesture signifying that both regions are equally vital parts of the kingdom,” Peter Aagaard, a professor at Roskilde University in Denmark, said in an interview with NBC News.
Greenland, the largest island on Earth, geographically sandwiched between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, is actually closer to New York than to Copenhagen. It has been under Denmark’s governance since the 14th century but gained self-governance in 1979.
The island is also known for a major US Air Force base and significant mineral reserves, which caught the attention of former President Trump during his first year in office, who expressed interest in purchasing the island.
When Trump initially proposed the deal, Greenland and Denmark both strongly turned it down, prompting him to cancel a planned trip to Copenhagen.
A long-running discussion has taken place in both Denmark and Greenland regarding the country’s status within the Danish Commonwealth, fostered in part by allegations of wrongdoing by Greenland’s former colonial power.
“My feeling is that the coat of arms would have been changed regardless of President Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland,” Aagaard said, citing the “significant public discussion” and “growing sentiment of self-determination in Greenland” and the king’s personal connection to the island.
Danish royal historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen suggests the king’s visit may have been a strategic move to emphasize that “Greenland is a part of the Danish Realm,” particularly amid increased American interest in the island, home to approximately 56,000 residents.
US President Trump commented on the issue on Christmas Eve, stating on his Truth Social account that “the ownership and control” of the Danish territory was “an absolute necessity.”
Hours afterward, the Danish government declared it would increase its defense funding for the island to a “double-digit billion amount” equivalent to at least $1.5 billion, a move the defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, characterized as an “irony of fate.”
Trump has remained unapologetic and undaunted.
“Greenland is a remarkable destination, and the locals will greatly benefit if, and when, it becomes a part of our country. We will ensure its safety and preservation from the harsh realities of the outside world,” he posted on Truth Social before his son’s visit.
Donald Trump Jr.’s visit to the island was expected to last four to five hours, as announced by Mininnguaq Kleist, the island’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs.
“We haven’t been informed about the specifics of this program, so this is a personal visit,” Kleist said to Reuters.
Shortly after his arrival, Trump Jr. was captured on video taking a phone call from his father in a restaurant.
As one of Trump Jr.’s staff held up a phone, the president-elect was heard saying that Greenland was “a very special place.”
He emphasized that the world, including our country and the planet as a whole, critically requires security, not just for itself, but also for the entire world.
Trump Jr. stated that his team had gained significant knowledge and appreciated the stunning natural beauty of Greenland, receiving an exceptionally warm reception.
The Danish Foreign Affairs Ministry told NBC News that they acknowledged the visit, but declined further comment since it wasn’t a formal, official American trip.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on Tuesday that Greenland’s future will ultimately be determined by the people of Greenland, referring to the United States as Denmark’s most valued ally.
The statement echoed a resolute declaration made by Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede in December, as he expressed his unyielding position by saying “Greenland is not for sale.”
However, the conflict could fuel demands for Greenland’s separation from Denmark, with supporters seeking to use “Trump’s interest as a way to boost their own political aspirations,” rather than replacing Danish rule with American control, Aagaard stated.
Egede urged the territory to “break free” from the “imposed rules of the colonial era,” stating it will soon implement a new self-governance law to pave its own path and move away from Denmark’s control.
He stated that we should not give up in our ongoing fight for liberty.
In Denmark, many politicians viewed Trump Jr.’s visit as quite a nuisance, Aagaard stated, noting that there’s a strong Danish interest in keeping Greenland as part of the country, although they acknowledge Denmark wouldn’t be able to defend Greenland on its own.
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