Icelandic music icon Björk has voiced powerful support for the people of Greenland, using her platform to condemn renewed political rhetoric that has unsettled the region. Her message arrived early Monday (Jan. 5), at a moment when international tensions were already high following dramatic U.S. foreign policy developments over the weekend.
A Personal Plea Rooted in Shared History
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Björk reflected on the deep historical and cultural ties between Iceland and Greenland, two nations bound by Viking heritage and long-standing mutual respect. She expressed gratitude for Iceland’s own hard-fought independence from Denmark in 1944, noting how crucial that moment was in preserving Icelandic language and identity.
“I wish all Greenlanders blessings in their fight for independence,” she wrote, adding that Icelanders remain deeply aware of what might have been lost had they not broken free. Björk said she “burst with sympathy” for Greenlanders facing the possibility of renewed external control, describing the emotional weight of watching history threaten to repeat itself.
Trump’s Renewed Annexation Rhetoric
Björk’s comments were widely seen as a direct response to recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who once again floated the idea of the United States annexing Greenland. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump framed the proposal as a matter of national security, claiming the island’s strategic location was increasingly important amid alleged Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
In a separate interview, Trump doubled down, insisting that U.S. control of Greenland was necessary for defense—remarks that sharply contradicted his long-promoted “America First” stance of limiting overseas intervention.
Wider Fallout From Aggressive Foreign Policy Moves
These comments came just days after U.S. forces carried out a controversial operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The sudden escalation alarmed critics across the political spectrum, especially given Trump’s previous promises to avoid prolonged foreign conflicts.
Even longtime Trump allies began voicing concern. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who recently announced her resignation following a public split with Trump, warned that the Venezuela operation risked triggering exactly the kind of endless conflict many voters believed they were rejecting.
Denmark and Greenland Push Back
Leaders in Denmark responded swiftly to Trump’s comments. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected the idea of annexation, calling it both illogical and unlawful. She emphasized that Greenland is part of the Danish Kingdom and covered by NATO’s collective security guarantees.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, was even more direct, labeling Trump’s remarks “rude and disrespectful” and reaffirming Greenland’s right to self-determination.
Björk’s Warning Against Colonial History Repeating Itself
Björk returned to Instagram with an even more impassioned reflection, condemning colonialism in stark terms. She described the idea of Greenland shifting “from one cruel colonizer to another” as unbearable, invoking an Icelandic saying that translates to “from ashes into the fire.”
Her final plea was simple, emotional, and unmistakable: a call for Greenland to declare independence and chart its own future. Signing off with warmth from Iceland, Björk reminded the world that cultural voices often speak truths political power prefers to ignore.
As debates over sovereignty, security, and history continue to swirl, Björk’s message stands as a reminder that behind every geopolitical headline are real people, identities, and futures at stake.
