Nuuk, Greenland , 11 January (H.S.): Greenland's parliamentary leaders announced on Saturday a decision to expedite an emergency session of the Inatsisartut, the island's legislative assembly, in direct response to mounting threats from United States President Donald Trump to seize control of the mineral-rich Arctic territory.

The unified statement from all five political parties, issued late Friday and shared by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on social media, underscores a resolute rejection of external interference, affirming, We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.

This bold move comes amid Trump's renewed insistence that the U.S. must annex Greenland—an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark—to safeguard it against potential Russian or Chinese encroachment, given its strategic location and vast deposits of rare earth minerals essential for technology and defense industries.

On Friday, Trump declared he would do something on Greenland whether they like it or not, dismissing the existing U.S. military presence under a 1951 NATO-linked agreement with Denmark as inadequate for the island's defense.

The parliament, which last convened in November and was slated to reconvene on February 3, now prioritizes this accelerated debate to ensure a fair and comprehensive political debate takes place and that the people's rights are secured.

While no specific date has been finalized, the leaders emphasized self-determination without pressure for a quick decision, delay or interference from other countries, invoking a 2009 Greenland-Denmark accord that explicitly recognizes the islanders' right to independence on their own terms.

Home to 57,000 inhabitants, Greenland harbors a widespread aspiration for sovereignty, though the parties diverge on its timeline and methodology. Trump's aggressive posture, intensified following recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, has heightened anxieties among residents who view the 1951 defense pact as insufficient justification for outright takeover.

The leaders called for diplomatic dialogue grounded in international norms, signaling a united front against perceived U.S. contempt for their autonomy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar