January 10, 2026
Ice, Ice, Maybe
Why Is Greenland Part of the Kingdom of Denmark? A Short History
From Vikings to “buy it” memes: who gets Greenland’s riches and say
TLDR: Greenland is a self-governing part of Denmark with a legal path to independence decided by its people. Commenters spar over U.S. ambitions and mining rights, with mockery of “security” justifications and EU-vs-US tug-of-war, highlighting why this icy island matters in Arctic power and resource politics.
The article lays out Greenland’s wild ride from Viking settlers to Danish colonial rule to modern self-rule, with a clear bottom line: independence is on the table, but only when Greenlanders decide it’s financially safe. Polls suggest most locals want independence eventually, but not if their welfare state melts away. Since 2009, the law says Greenland’s people hold the power, not foreign buyers or big governments. That’s the calm version. The comments? Not so calm.
The thread explodes into a geopolitical roast. One user laughs at the idea of the U.S. needing to “secure its legitimate security interests,” while another skewers Americans suddenly “hyperfocusing” on Greenland because Trump keeps floating the idea of, well, taking it. Meanwhile, a fiery take paints two paths: become the “Venezuela of the north” under U.S. corporate extraction, or embrace Danish/EU ties and keep local control of mining deals. Others demand answers about rare earths and whether American companies already have land rights—cue a flurry of armchair lawyering. And then there’s the shrug brigade: “This is the history of the world.” Memes? Think “Trump Tower Nuuk,” Zillow listings for icebergs, and a tug-of-war over the Arctic that’s half strategy, half stand-up comedy. The polls say Greenlanders decide; the comments say everyone else wants a piece.
Key Points
- •Norse settlers led by Erik the Red established Greenland communities around the end of the 10th century, naming the island to attract settlers.
- •The Norse presence ended by the early 15th century, likely due to climate cooling and conflicts with arriving Inuit groups.
- •Hans Egede reestablished contact in 1721, beginning a colonial era in which Inuit were converted and Greenland was tied to Denmark-Norway.
- •Denmark retained Greenland in 1814; U.S. confirmation in 1916 and a 1933 court ruling affirmed Danish sovereignty against Norwegian claims.
- •Post-WWII decolonization led to 1953 incorporation into Denmark, 1979 Home Rule, and a 2009 self-rule law placing independence decisions with Greenlanders; polls favor independence if welfare is preserved.