In a controversial statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, asserted that the world would be a “better, more secure place” if the United States were to take control of Greenland. The remarks came just after President Donald Trump appeared to back away from his previous demands to annex the Arctic island.
Speaking on a panel at the “America House” event, Farage argued that a “strong America” presence in Greenland would be advantageous due to the “geopolitics of the high north, the retreating ice caps, and the continued expansionism of Russian icebreakers and Chinese investment.” He insisted that while he agreed “strategically” with Trump’s stance, he remained committed to the principle of national sovereignty and the right of self-determination for the Greenlandic people.
“If you believe in the nation-state and not globalist structures, you believe in sovereignty,” Farage said. “And if you believe in sovereignty, you believe in the principle of national self-determination. You must respect the rights and views of the Greenlanders, because that is what national self-determination is, and that’s a key part.”
The Reform UK leader, a longtime critic of the Davos elite, reiterated his opposition to the “globalist” agenda, stating that “for those of us at Davos that are fighting the globalists, belief in national self-determination is at the root of what people like me, albeit the minority here, believe in.”
When asked about the rising popularity of his party in the UK, Farage attributed it to a “moral decline” in British society, with people becoming “desperate for something different” due to the country’s economic, social, and even “moral” deterioration. He claimed that “young entrepreneurs, our highest taxpayers, many of our best businesses” were abandoning the UK, but expressed confidence that Reform UK had a strong chance of winning the next general election.
Farage’s comments have already sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of undermining the sovereignty of Greenland and its people in pursuit of geopolitical objectives. The debate over the future of Greenland and the role of the United States in the Arctic region is likely to continue, with Farage’s provocative remarks adding fuel to the ongoing discussions.
