RT reported that the survey results conducted by the US research company patriot Polling and released on January 13 showed that 57.3% of Greenlanders surveyed agreed with Donald Trump's proposal, while 37.4% opposed and the remaining 5.3% had not yet decided.
The survey was conducted from January 6-11, with the participation of 416 Greenlanders, at the same time Donald Trump Jr., son of the president-elect, visited the autonomous territory.
patriot polling commented: Our survey shows that the majority of Greenlanders surveyed support joining the US. However, this is the first time the company has conducted a survey outside the US, sparking debate about the objectivity of the results.
Mr Trump proposed buying Greenland during his first term in 2019, but the idea was not accepted. He recently returned to this plan, even stating at a press conference that the US could use force if necessary to control the world's largest island. We may need to do something... Greenland is important for US national security, Trump said.
Responding to the statement, Greenland leader Mute Egede stressed: Greenland belongs to the Greenland people. We don't want to be Danish, and we don't want to be American." He also affirmed his desire for independence and promised to hold a vote on this issue in the near future.
However, Mr. Egede did not close the dialogue with the US, expressing his willingness to cooperate: "We are ready to talk to Mr. Trump and want to maintain cooperative relations with the US".
Greenland, with an area of 2.2 million square kilometres, of which 80% of the territory is covered by ice and a population of less than 57,000 people, is an important strategic point in the Arctic region. The island is rich in natural resources, including gold, silver, copper and uranium, and is said to have large reserves of oil under its waters.
Greenland also plays an important role in NATO's defense strategy, especially as shipping routes in the Arctic are becoming more and more feasible thanks to the melting phenomenon.
Technology billionaire Elon Musk has spoken out in support of Greenland becoming a part of the United States, writing in X: If the Greenlanders want to join the United States, its great! Elon Musk made the statement after a survey from the University of Copenhagen showed that the majority of Greenlanders surveyed support independence.
However, Greenland leader Egede has always emphasized his desire for autonomy: We want to own our own home... This is something everyone should respect.
Greenland has been an autonomous territory of Denmark since 1979 and is gradually gaining more autonomy. In 2009, the autonomy law was passed after a 2008 consultation, giving the island more control over internal affairs, while Denmark retains diplomatic and defense management.
