Björk urges Greenland to become independent, also scolds Denmark as a cruel colonial host

Icelander pop star Björk urges Greenland to declare independence on social media. Greenland has become the focal point of international politics for the president of the United States Donald Trump’s to lay eyes on it.

Today, Greenland is a self-governing part of Denmark, but independence has long been a central topic and political goal in Greenland.

It was also a central question in the spring 2025 parliamentary elections. The election was won by the Democrats, which supports moderate progress in the issue of independence. The schedule for the independence referendum has not been decided.

Björk compares Greenland’s situation with his own country, Iceland, which became independent from Denmark in 1944.

He refers to the news about the forced contraception campaigns of Greenlandic girls and women between 1966 and 1970, as well as parenting skills tests conducted in Denmark, which have been criticized as discriminating against Greenlanders and other minorities. Making them for Greenlanders was forbidden by law in May 2025.

“Icelanders are very relieved that we managed to separate from Denmark in 1944. We didn’t lose our language (otherwise my children would be speaking Danish now) and I am constantly full of sympathy for the Greenlanders,” writes Björk in an Instagram post published on Monday.

“Colonialism has repeatedly given me chills, and the idea that Greenlanders might be forced from one brutal colonial power to another is too brutal to even contemplate. (–) Dear Greenlanders! Declare independence!”