Denmark changes coat of arms as Trump eyes Greenland

The self-ruled island boasts rich natural resources and a key position in the Arctic

King Frederick of Denmark has introduced a redesigned royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The change came after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed an interest in gaining control over Greenland.

In the old design, Greenland and the Faroe Islands in the Northeast Atlantic, the two self-governed parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, shared the same field out of four in the royal coat of arms. The updated version, released last week, shows a polar bear and ram - animals that symbolize the two territories respectively – being given their own field each.

Hörni, Danmark har precis uppdaterat sitt stora riksvapen. Se nedan, ser ni skillnaden? (Den nya till vänster, den gamla till höger). https://t.co/a2Q44JXU9E pic.twitter.com/Udx3ANkqp1

— Thomas Nilsson (@thomasnilsson) January 1, 2025

“The King wishes, by making changes to the royal coat of arms established in 1972, to create a contemporary royal coat of arms that both reflects the Commonwealth and takes into account history and heraldic tradition,” reads a statement published by the Danish royal family on New Year’s Day.

The statement makes no reference to Trump’s stated plans.

The ‘Danish Commonwealth’ refers to the constitutional status of the relationship between Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

Greenland, the world's largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is home to a large US military base and is located on the shortest route from North America to Europe. The territory gained home rule from Denmark in 1979.

During his first term, Trump repeatedly expressed his intention to purchase Greenland, referring to it as “a large real estate deal.”

In December, Trump renewed his intent, stating on his social media platform Truth Social: “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

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Shortly after the statement, the Danish government announced a huge boost in defense spending for the island, which despite being larger than Mexico is home to fewer than 57,000 permanent residents.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded by saying “we are not for sale.” 

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is expected to arrive in Greenland on a private visit on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Denmark’s relationship with Greenland has been marked by tension over issues such as autonomy and resources. In December, Egede accused Denmark of genocide in connection with investigations into a forced contraceptive program from the 1960s and 1970s. In his New Year’s speech, Egede advocated for the island’s independence, calling for the removal of what he described as the “shackles of the colonial era.”

After coming to power last year, King Frederick outlined his intent to keep the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

READ MORE: Greenland’s PM pushes for independence from Denmark

Greenland’s significance has increased because of its rich natural resources, including rare earth minerals, and its key position in the Arctic. As climate change makes the Arctic more accessible, the region’s potential for resource exploitation and emerging shipping lanes has drawn heightened attention from global powers including Russia, China, and the United States.