“Never been so scared as now”

Demonstration outside the US embassy

Susanna Nygren

Updated 19.47 | Published 19.46

At the same time as the fateful meeting in Washington, hundreds of protesters gathered at the US embassy in Copenhagen.

The anger over Trump's threat was great.

– Trump can't just invade a NATO country. That's enough now, says Jeanette Astrup.

At 16.30 Swedish time, Vance, Rubio, Løkke Rasmussen and Motzfeldt met in Washington. A meeting that the Danes and Greenlanders had requested after Trump's repeated threats to take over Greenland. 

Half an hour before the meeting, around 200 protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Copenhagen. The idea was to hold a peaceful demonstration in support of the Danish and Greenlandic delegation.

Many held torches and many were outraged by Trump's rhetoric.

– We are speaking out in the Kingdom of Denmark. That is the most important thing right now – speaking out, says Jeanette Astrup.

 

Jeanette Astrup is afraid of what will happen. Photo: Krister Hansson / Krister Hansson Aftonbladet

Jeanette Astrup is nervous about what will happen at the meeting in Washington on Wednesday evening.

– I hope that Løkke can talk sense into those people's heads. And that the Greenlandic Foreign Minister can say "Hey, we are not for sale, we are actually for one people", says Jeanette Astrup.

What are you most afraid of?

– That they are invading Greenland with soldiers now. I have never been as scared as I am now. I remember a fear during the Cold War when I was a child – but I am more scared now.

         

         

        1 / 2Photo: Krister Hansson

"That we should be saved"

On Tuesday, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Fredrik Nielsen was clear with his rhetoric:  Greenland cannot be bought. He also said that they choose Denmark, NATO and the EU - not the USA.

That is the predominant feeling among Greenlanders, says Anthon Engel as he stands with a torch outside the embassy.

- Regardless of what Trump thinks, we want to show that we do not want to be part of the USA.

Anthon is a Greenlander and firmly convinced that it is important to stick together with Denmark now.

- I think that all Greenlanders think that we should rather continue as we have now. Than to be part of the USA. I think what Nielsen said was really strong.

 

Anthon Engel thinks that Greenland and Denmark must stick together now. Photo: Krister Hansson

"Like a spoiled child"

Anthon Engel has been following Trump's actions in recent weeks and thinks that it seems that Trump has tried to escalate the threat.

- It feels like you hear something new every hour from the US. You are influenced, but that is what he wants, for us to be afraid and give in. That is why it is important that we stand here and show that we do not give in, says Anthon Engel.

 

Simon Nielsen: "Trump is like a spoiled child" Photo: Krister Hansson

Copenhagen resident Simon Nielsen had a Greenlandic flag on his stomach during the demonstration. He feels a lot of anger towards Trump.

- He is like a spoiled child. He says: "I want it - give it to me". I am very angry about it, says Simon Nielsen.

He has been hopeful but also nervous about tonight's meeting in Washington.

- I am very nervous. You never know with Trump how he will react.