Copenhagen’s plan comes after US President Donald Trump suggested purchasing the territory
The Danish government has announced a comprehensive initiative to combat racism and discrimination against Greenlanders residing in Denmark, the Copenhagen Post has reported. The move has prompted criticism that the issue has been addressed only after the US began pushing to acquire Greenland, according to the newspaper.
On Monday, officials unveiled a plan that allocates an additional 35 million DKK (approximately $4.9 million) over the next four years to implement 12 targeted measures aimed at addressing longstanding issues facing the Greenlandic community.
A central component of the plan is the recognition of Greenlanders’ distinct identity. The government will now allow individuals to list their nationality as “Greenlandic” on their passports, acknowledging their unique cultural heritage within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Additional initiatives include enhancing interpretation services to bridge language barriers and fostering dialogue with educational institutions. Boarding schools will also engage in discussions to improve conditions for Greenlandic pupils, ensuring a more inclusive and supportive environment.
“Racism and discrimination against Greenlanders in Denmark are a separate problem,” said Minister of Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek, according to The Copenhagen Post.
Greenlandic Member of Parliament Aaja Chemnitz of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party welcomed the plan, the newspaper reports, describing it as an “important tool” for combating racism against not only Greenlanders but also other ethnic groups.
However, critics have noted that Danish institutions have largely remained inactive on these issues until recent years, when the US began expressing heightened interest in Greenland, the Post writes. This includes US President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion to purchase the territory, which drew international attention to Greenland’s strategic importance and its relationship with Denmark.
In a related development, Denmark has decided to discontinue the use of controversial “parenting competency” tests on Greenlandic families. These tests, part of child protection investigations, have been criticized for being culturally unsuitable and leading to the separation of children from Inuit parents. The government plans to replace the tests with a special unit knowledgeable in Greenlandic culture to assist municipalities in related cases.
