LIVE BLOG

Royal visit begins at Nuuk Airport

In this liveblog we will provide updates on the American interest in Greenland.

On Wednesday, dark cars will be ready at the airport in Nuuk. One of the cars will probably transport King Frederik from the airport to Hans Egedes House, where the king will attend a lunch, as the first item on the program in Nuuk.
Published
  • Several people gathered to see King Frederik arrive

    A few citizens have gathered to see King Frederik land in Nuuk.

    One of them is Hansine Lyberth, and she tells Sermitsiaq that she follows King Frederik closely for a special reason:

    - I was born in 1968, the same year as the king. So it is important for me to follow the king.

    Hansine Lyberth is waiting for the king at Nuuk airport. She will go to a coffee shop in Katuaq this afternoon.

    - I am on holiday in Nuuk, and therefore I have taken the opportunity to see him arrive and follow him on his visit. I am also going home to Maniitsoq tomorrow. I will use today to follow him, and go to a coffee shop in Katuaq in the afternoon.

  • Press ready to receive the king

    At 11:00, Greenlandic and Danish media are ready to cover King Frederik's arrival in Nuuk.

    Arrival is expected at 11:30, where Chairman of Naalakkersuisut Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Chairman of Inatsisartut Kim Kielsen will receive him.

    Sermitsiaq follows today's royal visit to Nuuk, where King Frederik will, among other things, attend a coffee meeting in Katuaq.

    The press is ready to receive the king.
  • The King travels to Greenland as a unifying figure after Trump unrest

    King Frederik will act as a unifying figure for the entire Kingdom of Denmark when he arrives in Nuuk on Wednesday morning at 11:30.

    This is the assessment of historian Emma Rønberg Paaske.

    This is the King's third visit to Greenland since he became regent just over two years ago in January 2024.

    The frequent visits to Greenland come as a result of the unrest that US President Donald Trump has created among the population with his repeated statements about control over Greenland.

    - It is of course important that the King, who is also the King of Greenland, steps up and ensures that everything is as it should be and instills hope in turbulent times, says Emma Rønberg Paaske.

  • A symbol of cohesion

    The royal family is limited in terms of acting or expressing itself politically, as the Danish monarchy is constitutional and therefore does not have real power in the traditional sense.

    - But he has what you can call soft power, which means he can step up and be a symbol of our cohesion in the realm, says Emma Paaske.

    The King himself has not directly linked the visit to Greenland with the American interest in the island and Trump's statements, which is obviously related to the fact that the King cannot or should not carry out political actions on his own.

    But when the King announced his trip to Greenland, it was said that he and Queen Mary have followed the developments, where Greenland has been under pressure from the other side of the Atlantic.

    - We feel very much for the Greenlandic people, and what has happened in Greenland in recent weeks has touched us a lot, he said during a press conference during a royal state visit to Lithuania at the end of January.

  • A particularly strong connection

    The relationship between the Greenlanders and the Danish royal family goes back to 1921, when Christian X traveled there on the first official trip, after which successive rulers have had a close relationship with the island.

    But King Frederik's is particularly strong.

    He has traveled the country extensively both as a child and an adult. Both in official contexts as Crown Prince and King, as a naval officer in 1996 on the inspection ship "Vædderen", and not least when he completed the 2,500-kilometer sledge journey "Expedition Sirus 2000".

    According to Emma Rønberg Paaske, he is the regent who has had the closest ties with the Greenlanders.

    - It is certainly an advantage, because he knows the country and the Greenlandic people, she says, emphasizing that he is enormously loved by the Greenlandic population.

    The Greenlanders have also expressed that they wanted a visit and more attention from the king at this time, she says.

    - So of course he will come.

    /ritzau/

  • Rubio has spoken with the Norwegian Prime Minister about Greenland

    On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, during the security conference in the German city of Munich.

    Here the two talked about Greenland, Rubio writes on the social media X.

    - During my meeting with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, we discussed Norway's crucial role in Arctic security and Greenland's strategic importance.

    - We look forward to working with Norway on the security of supply chains, including for critical minerals, Rubio writes.

  • The White House distributed Valentine's cards to Greenland

    The Norwegian news agency NTB writes that Støre said during the security conference that the meeting went well and that he had used the opportunity to bring up Greenland.

    The two also talked about Ukraine, Støre tells NTB.

    Trump revived the debate about Greenland on Friday when he told reporters outside the White House that negotiations are currently underway about Greenland.

    The White House also shared a Valentine's card to Greenland on the social media X on Saturday, which said "it's time for us to define our situationship".

    Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, reiterated on Saturday that Denmark disagrees with the US gaining ownership of Greenland.

  • NATO has launched Arctic Sentry to strengthen security in the Arctic

    With support from the US, NATO has launched Arctic Sentry, which will strengthen security through exercises and surveillance.

    NATO has decided to launch Arctic Sentry, which will strengthen security in the Arctic through exercises and surveillance. Reuters reports.

    The decision comes after the serious tensions that US President Donald Trump triggered with his claim for ownership of Greenland.

    The new mission means that NATO will take over the coordination of the military presence in the Arctic. This is done with American support and can thus be seen as a way to address Trump's concerns about security in the Arctic.

  • Viggo Mortensen visits the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut

    On Tuesday, the Chairman of Naalakkersuisut Jens-Frederik Nielsen shared a photo with him and the Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen on the social media Facebook.

    Jens-Frederik Nielsen expresses his joy that the actor is showing support by being in Greenland during a difficult time:

    - Viggo has been in Nuuk in recent days to show his support for us during a time of great international attention and pressure from outside. It means something. Not only when political leaders show support, but also when voices from the world of art and culture choose to stand up, he writes.

    In the same post, the Chairman of the Government of Greenland says that later this week he will participate in the international security conference in Munich, where the world's decision-makers and security experts will discuss global security, stability and responsibility.

    - Here I want to make it clear that we in Greenland must be part of the international conversations when it comes to security in the Arctic and in the world. That we take responsibility. And that decisions about our country are made here, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

  • Macron in an interview: The crisis over Greenland is not over

    On Tuesday morning, French President Emanuel Macron expressed in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde that the crisis over Donald Trump's desire to annex Greenland is not over.

    He was asked by Le Monde about Europe's reaction to Trump's threats to take over Greenland and new tariff threats against Europe in this regard.

    Macron describes that it is not in place for European sighs of relief and believes that the crisis could flare up again:

    - People thought it was over. But don't believe it for a single second. Every day there are threats regarding the pharmaceutical sector, digital technology... When there is a clear act of aggression, I think we must not bow our heads or try to find a compromise. We have been trying that strategy for months. It's not worth it, says Macron.

  • Famous actor at press conference

    A famous actor was in the audience when four American senators held a press conference on Monday morning about their stay in Greenland.

    Viggo Mortensen was in the audience along with Inatsisartut politicians Erik Jensen (S) and Pipaluk Lynge (IA). Mortensen is both an American and a Danish citizen.

    He was wearing a T-shirt with a polar bear and a pin on his jacket with the message ‘Greenland is not for sale’.

    As an actor, Viggo Mortensen is best known for his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings films.

    In January, he joined the foreign policy debate with a debate piece for the media outlet Sjællandske. Here, he called President Donald Trump a bully who must have a strong counterattack.

    Read more about the senators’ press conference in this article.

  • American delegation to meet the press on Monday

    The American delegation of politicians, who are currently visiting Greenland, will hold a press conference on Monday morning at 10:15 at Hotel Hans Egede in Nuuk.

    This is stated by the US Consulate in Nuuk in a press release.

    The release states that Senators Angus King (Independent) and Lisa Murkowski (R) are leading the delegation, which will be in Nuuk until Monday.

    Lisa Murkowski is a Republican senator from Alaska, and she is known to be critical of her party colleague, President Donald Trump.

    The delegation arrived on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning the American politicians will meet with the Inatsisartut Foreign and Security Policy Committee.

  • Americans meet with committee at 11 am

    A delegation of American politicians is in Nuuk on Sunday.

    Not much has been released to the public about the program, but at 11 Sunday morning they will meet with Inatsisartut's Foreign and Security Policy Committee.

    This is reported by DR, and committee chairman Pipaluk Lynge (IA) confirms the meeting to Sermitsiaq.

    The Americans landed on Saturday at 4 pm in Nuuk.

  • American delegation lands in Nuuk

    A US Air Force has just landed in Nuuk at 4 pm.

    It is expected that the passengers on the plane are the US delegation, which will hold a meeting with Greenlandic politicians.

    According to Sermitsiaq's information, US Senator Lisa Murkowski is expected to be among the participants.

    It is not yet known how many American politicians will be in Greenland this weekend. The American consulate has stated in an email that it is Naalakkersuisut that has invited for a dialogue.

    To Sermitsiaq, Naalakkersuisut for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt (S) has stated that the topic will be the current international political situation.

  • Vivian on American delegation: Friends of Greenland

    The US consulate in Nuuk announced on Friday that an American delegation is on its way to Nuuk.

    According to Sermitsiaq's information, the Americans will land in Nuuk on Saturday afternoon.

    Naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt said in a brief comment to Sermitsiaq on Saturday that they are friends of Greenland:

    - The American delegation that is coming is friends of Greenland. And of course we will meet with them.

    - The topic will definitely be the world situation as it is now. We can probably say more after the visit, says Vivian Motzfeldt.

    According to Sermitsiaq's information, Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska is expected to be among the participants in the delegation.

  • Grammy host mentions Greenland in a nod to Trump

    The host of this year's Grammy Awards, Trevor Noah, mentioned Greenland during the awards ceremony on Monday night.

    This is reported by the AP news agency.

    After singer Billie Eilish received the award for Best Song, Noah sent two suppositories at once to US President Donald Trump.

    - This is a Grammy that all artists want - almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense. Well, because Epstein's island is gone, Noah said.

    The comedian refers to Trump's repeated statements at the beginning of the year that he wants Greenland to come under US control "for national security reasons".

    After repeatedly saying that "we're going to get Greenland", he said at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in mid-January that he will not use force to gain control of the Arctic region.

    Donald Trump has also been linked several times to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last week, thousands of documents related to Epstein were released by the US Department of Justice.

  • Løkke's popularity increased significantly during the crisis

    Danish voters are welcoming Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen's handling of the international power struggle over Greenland. This is confirmed by a current opinion poll from Epinion for DR and the Altinget.

    According to the poll, 43 percent of Danes today have a positive impression of Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who is also the party leader of the Moderates. 37 percent are negatively inclined.

    Lars Løkke Rasmussen was much less popular in surveys of party leaders from the end of 2025. This is a record-breaking development against the backdrop of the current political dispute over Greenland, notes the political media Altinget.

    – When the opportunity arose to step onto the big stage, he seized it in a way that no other politician would be able to, political observer Steffen Hjaltelin tells the media.

    A similar rapid development is evident from opinion polls in January. In the space of two weeks, the Moderates went from 3.3 to 7.0 percent in surveys conducted by Voxmeter for Ritzau.

  • Trump on negotiations: It will be a good deal for everyone

    US President Donald Trump has spoken out on the negotiations regarding Greenland on Sunday night.

    This happened on Sunday night, when the president spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One.

    Here Trump was asked how the negotiations are going:

    - Yes, we have started the negotiations, and we seem to be pretty much in agreement. They want us to do it.

    - I think it will be a good deal for everyone. A very important deal, says Trump.

    Trump emphasizes that the deal will be important for US national security, and he believes that the deal will be in place soon.

    Currently, senior officials from the US, Greenland and Denmark are negotiating about US interest and military presence in Greenland based on the president's many statements that the US should take over Greenland.

    Naalakkersuisoq Vivian Motzfeldt (S) stated earlier this week to Sermitsiaq about the negotiations:

    – I would like to tell the citizens that the dialogue is ongoing at the civil service level. There will probably still be "noise" on the side, but the most important thing is that the dialogue between the countries takes place through the established channels. These are the ones we should focus on and hope that they lead to good results, said Vivian Motzfeldt.

  • Naalakkersuisoq and the Minister of Defense have visited soldiers in Buksefjorden

    The Ministry of Defense writes on X that Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen and naalakkersuisoq Vivian Motzfeldt visited Danish soldiers at the hydroelectric power plant in Buksefjorden on Saturday.

    The soldiers at the plant are training to guard critical infrastructure as part of the Arctic Endurance exercise.

    The visit by the two politicians was announced on Friday, and later in the day there will also be a citizens' meeting. Both Vivian Motzfeldt and Troels Lund Poulsen will participate in the citizens' meeting, which will be held in GUX Nuuk at 3 p.m.

  • German comedian was behind the attempt to raise the US flag in Nuuk

    A man employed by the German media NDR tried to raise the American flag in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, on Wednesday.

    This is according to Jyllands-Posten, which has confirmed the information from NDR.

    The man - German comedian Maxi Schafroth - tried to raise the flag as part of a recording for the satirical magazine "Extra 3", where he is employed, is the explanation from NDR.

    Maxi Schafroth has contacted Sermitsiaq regarding the incident, for which he would like to apologize.

    He explains that the intention of the incident was to do something against the aggressive American approach, and both he and his cameraman are very shocked by the emotions they have triggered. On Wednesday, several media outlets wrote that an unknown person tried to raise an American flag in Greenland. A photographer from the AFP news agency also took pictures of the incident.

    The Greenland Police also confirmed to Sermitsiaq that a person had attempted to raise the flag.

    Everything went smoothly when people at the scene stopped him. The police only arrived at the scene afterwards.

    The flagpole is at the Katuaq cultural center in Nuuk.

    The incident triggered "violent reactions" on social media in Greenland. Greenlandic influencer Orla Joelsen writes on X.

  • Media: Person tried to raise the US flag in Nuuk

    On Wednesday this week, a person tried to raise the US flag in the square at Katuaq in the center of Nuuk.

    This is reported by TV2, which also has a short video sequence of the episode.

    According to the media, several people intervened and stopped the flag-raising. The situation was peaceful, and the police are investigating the matter, they inform TV2.

  • Jens-Frederik Nielsen in Paris: - We will not give in

    The Chairman of the Greenlandic Government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), is in Paris on Wednesday, where he, together with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, will speak to journalists and students at the University of Sciences Po.

    Here Jens-Frederik Nielsen says that Greenland is under pressure and that the situation is making the population afraid, but they do not intend to give in.

    This is reported by DR.dk

    - We are under pressure and our population is afraid. But we will not give in, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen according to Reuters.

    According to DR, Mette Frederiksen stated during a visit to Berlin on Tuesday that she believes that the crisis with the US's desire to take over Greenland is far from over.

  • World-famous musician makes his music free in Greenland for a year

    Canadian singer and songwriter Neil Young has made all of his music freely available in Greenland. He writes this on his website.

    He is doing this after "the unjustified stress and threats" that Greenlanders, according to Young, have been subjected to by US President Donald Trump.

    - I hope that my music and my music films can ease some of the unjustified stress and threats that you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government, it says.

    That's why Neil Young is opening up his archives on his website, so that anyone with the Greenlandic country code in their mobile number can get free access to more than five decades of music from the Canadian for a year.

    - It is my sincere wish that you can enjoy all my music in your beautiful Greenlandic homes in the highest quality. This is an offer of peace and love, it says.

    You can access Neil Young's archive here.