The historical colonial relationship among Greenland, Denmark, and the United States continues to impact their current interactions.

The relationship between Greenland and Denmark has been under scrutiny due to the United States' strategic interests in the Arctic region. This dynamic has become a central issue in political debates, as the aspirations of the U.S. to purchase Greenland have put immense pressure on Greenland's self-governance process.

Impact on Self-Governance

The U.S. views Greenland as a critical Arctic asset for geopolitical and military reasons. This has led to intensified political and military engagement, causing political complications within Greenland. Recent U.S. delegations during sensitive coalition formation periods were perceived as external interference, triggering local protests and political calls for unity against becoming a "pawn in great power competition." Greenlanders emphasize that decisions about their governance should come from themselves, not through deals between Denmark and the U.S.

Greenland has made substantial progress in self-governance since 1979, expanding autonomy in 2009 with Greenlandic as the official language. However, Denmark still retains control over foreign policy, defense, and monetary matters, a central feature of Greenland’s status. The U.S. interest complicates this balance by pushing Greenland into a more direct engagement on security that traditionally involved Denmark.

Greenland's political leaders are divided: some urge cautious steps toward independence to build a solid foundation, while others fear annexation or loss of self-determination if the U.S. overtakes Danish influence.

Influence on Historical Memory Politics

Greenland’s self-governance journey arises from its colonial past under Denmark until 1953. The island’s progress toward autonomy and use of Greenlandic as the official language represent efforts to reclaim political and cultural identity.

The U.S. interest reignites historical and political tensions about neo-colonialism and sovereignty. Many Greenlanders resist U.S. efforts that seem like new forms of external control, reflecting a broader regional Indigenous and post-colonial critique. This dynamic shapes historical memory politics by contrasting Greenland’s minimum ecological protections and governance rights under Denmark (such as bans on uranium mining and strong local say in land use) with fears that U.S. annexation might erase these protections and local controls.

Recent Developments

Events such as the visit of Donald Trump, Jr. to Nuuk airport, Greenland's capital, on January 7th, and the revelations of IUD scandals in Greenland in 2022, have sparked new discussions on how to deal with the past and its lingering effects.

An academic event organised by the Center for the Sociology of Organisations, Center for International Studies, and Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, will feature presentations by Astrid Nonbo Andersen, a visiting professor at CSO/Sciences Po, and Stéphanie Balme, Director of CERI. Sarah Gensburger, CNRS Research Director, will give welcoming remarks, while Sandrine Lefranc, CNRS Research Director, will open the discussion.

Astrid Nonbo Andersen's primary research focus is on historical justice and the politics of history and memory theory, with her research primarily centred on Scandinavia and Greenland. Her insights will undoubtedly provide valuable perspectives on the complex interplay between self-governance, historical memory, and geopolitical interests in Greenland.

As Denmark reconsiders its relations with Greenland due to the U.S. aspirations to buy Greenland, understanding this complex web of self-governance, historical memory, and geopolitics is crucial for navigating the evolving landscape of Greenland's political discourse.

The historical colonial relationship among Greenland, Denmark, and the United States continues to impact their current interactions.