In a direct response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland, Denmark has altered its royal coat of arms, incorporating a polar bear. This change comes after Trump suggested that the U.S. could purchase Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark’s control.
Greenland, which holds strategic significance due to the melting Arctic glaciers, has a population of just 58,000 and has been increasingly voicing its desire for independence. The polar bear, now added to Denmark’s royal emblem, symbolizes Greenland, whose sovereignty has been a point of contention in recent years.
In reaction to Trump’s comments, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Borup firmly stated, “Greenland is ours; it is not for sale, and it never will be.” This response reflects the growing sentiment within Greenland to resist any notion of selling or trading the island.
Denmark, labeling Trump’s remarks as “nonsense,” has taken further steps to reinforce its stance. The Danish royal coat of arms, which previously featured three crowns, has now replaced two of them with a polar bear and a bell. The bell is symbolic of the Faroe Islands, another Danish territory.
This change in the national emblem is Denmark’s clear message to the U.S. that Greenland is not up for negotiation. The U.S. has long expressed interest in Greenland for its strategic location and natural resources. In 1946, the U.S. even attempted to purchase the island for $100 million but was unsuccessful.
Denmark’s latest move underscores the ongoing tensions between the two countries regarding Greenland’s future, signaling to global powers that the island’s fate is not for foreign acquisition.
