Trump’s Greenland Threats Rattle the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands, a Danish territory of 18 rugged North Atlantic isles home to about 55,000 people, have long nourished a push for independence. With a strong local economy — salmon farms export nearly a billion dollars’ worth of fish, an extensive tunnel network keeps traffic moving and the islands have even built a roundabout under the sea — the Faroese had been preparing to reopen talks with Copenhagen about greater autonomy.

Those plans were put on hold after President Trump’s threats to seize Greenland stirred anxiety across the Danish realm. Leaders in the Faroes said the crisis drew Greenland closer to Denmark and made this a bad moment for heavy negotiations; as Aksel V. Johannesen put it, “Greenland and Denmark are in a bad situation,” though “there is a broad political agreement that our relationship with Denmark must change.” Strategic concerns add to the pressure.

Denmark, Faroe Islands