1721
The Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede arrives on the island, and the modern connection between Denmark and Greenland begins. Until 1814, Norway was administratively part of Denmark, and the Danish-Norwegian commitment was further strengthened during the late 18th century.
Several times during the winter, the US president has claimed that not only Denmark, but also the United States, was in Greenland “with boats” 300 years ago.
"It's a strange argument because the United States didn't exist 300 years ago. They were European colonies at the time," says Søren Rud, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Copenhagen.
1921
During the first part of the 20th century, Denmark worked towards greater international recognition of Greenland as a Danish colony. The 200th anniversary of Egede's arrival was seen as a good time to declare sovereignty over all of Greenland.
When Denmark negotiated the sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States (1917), Denmark received a declaration from the United States that the United States would not oppose Denmark expanding its influence and activities in Greenland.
1933
A dispute with Norway, which has contested Danish sovereignty over the east coast of Greenland, is being decided in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The court also recognized Denmark's right to the eastern part of Greenland, says Rud, referring to the UN court's predecessor, the Permanent Court of International Justice.
1951
During World War II - when Denmark was occupied by Germany - a Danish diplomat concluded an agreement with the United States that allowed the Americans to establish military bases in Greenland. After the war, the United States wanted to buy Greenland. The talks ended with a new agreement in 1951 - within the framework of NATO - which assumed that Greenland was Danish, but that the United States was given far-reaching military rights to help with the island’s defense. It is this agreement that is now to be renegotiated.
1953 - 1954
Greenland ceased to be a colony and became part of Denmark, with the approval of the UN and the United States.
1979/2009
In a process towards becoming more independent, Greenland gained limited self-government in the late 1970s and full self-government in the late 2000s.
The Greenlanders have taken steps towards political self-determination within the Danish kingdom, and they have in principle the right to decide whether they want to separate from Denmark, says Rud, noting:
Trump speaks from a position that does not recognize Greenland's right to self-determination or the political process Greenland has undergone. He focuses on rights over territory based on who came first, rather than on the inhabitants and their political aspirations.
