‘The vast majority agree: we are not for sale!’ says Fleming Stan Teerlynck (29), who has been working in Greenland, one of the three constituent countries of the Kingdom of Denmark, for four years. Now that US President Donald Trump is becoming increasingly explicit about his ambition to annex the country, unrest is growing. However, Greenlanders are certainly open to possible cooperation, even with the US. ‘But it must be on the basis of equality,’ they say.
After studying in Belgium, Stan left our shores for Denmark seven years ago. There he started to study the Arctic. In Greenland, he immersed himself in the world of the region's indigenous peoples.
Four years ago, he found a job as a project manager for a company that develops IT platforms and counts the Danish government among its clients.
According to Stan, opinions about Trump's plans are fairly unanimous. ‘Almost everyone supports the Greenlandic prime minister and the government. The message is clear and widely supported: Greenland does not want to become part of the United States, and certainly not in this way. We are not for sale. The vast majority agree on that.’
The largest government party, Demokraatit, had Greenland's economic independence as an important campaign issue. That remains the country's most important ambition. ‘The majority of the population wants independence but also realises that it may be too early for that,’ says Stan.
Importance of raw materials
Raw materials and precious metals in particular play a key role in the American president's plans. ‘Awareness of this is very strong in Greenland,’ says Stan. ‘When it first became clear how many different minerals were present in large quantities, it felt like a relief to many people: it offered the prospect of real independence, with the potential profits enabling the country to stand on its own two feet.’
Since 2009, Greenland has had the authority to decide for itself who can extract minerals and under what conditions. ‘That was a crucial moment,’ says Stan. ‘People want to set the rules and conditions themselves. Since then, licences have also been issued in consultation with Denmark. Greenland benefits from this.’
Much of the knowledge lies with the inhabitants themselves. ‘They know their country and the conditions, of course, and they know perfectly well how to deal with them,’ Stan continues. ‘But Greenlanders have little or no experience in extracting raw materials, which is why they are completely dependent on foreign investment.’
Cooperation is therefore the message for the long term. ‘If this can be done on an equal footing with others, including the United States, then Greenlanders are up for it.’
Climate engenders hospitality
‘Greenlanders are exceptionally friendly’ says Stan ‘They support each other and are very community-oriented. You notice this constantly in everyday life. People are open, welcome you warmly and quickly make you feel at home.’
‘And because the environment is so inhospitable, and the weather sometimes miserable, it brings people together. That was no different for me when I first arrived there four years ago.’
Even though geopolitical storms are currently raging over the island, Greenlanders usually remain calm. ‘We have a Greenlandic word for that: “Ajungilaq”,’ says Stan. "It means: “We'll see”, it'll be fine. Or: we take it as it comes. That is typical of a society where the weather and nature can be unforgiving, and people adapt to the circumstances."
