Danish politician calls for immediate closure of U.S. consulate in Nuuk
The U.S. consulate in Nuuk should be shut down “as soon as possible,” says Danish Conservative (Konservative) MP Rasmus Jarlov, who is the party’s spokesperson on Greenland. His comments were reported by Greenlandic broadcaster KNR, following days of growing controversy over U.S. involvement in Greenlandic affairs.
Det amerikanske konsulat i Nuuk skal lukkes hurtigst muligt. Ingen andre lande ville acceptere folk, der åbenlyst har erklæret, at de er der for at annektere en del af landet. Selvstyret kan få tilskud til et konsulat i Washington, så de selv kan skabe positive kontakter, men…
— Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) March 25, 2025
Jarlov accuses the U.S. consulate of overstepping its diplomatic bounds and interfering directly in the internal affairs of Greenland.
“The consulate has become a disruptive factor in the relationship between Greenland, Denmark and the United States. It’s not serving a constructive role anymore,” he said.
Jarlov’s comments come amid backlash over a planned visit to Greenland by U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance and a high-level American delegation. The visit, originally scheduled to include cultural events in Sisimiut, has since been scaled back and will now be limited to Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. military installation in northern Greenland.
According to Jarlov, this visit—facilitated in part by the U.S. consulate—demonstrates how American presence in Nuuk has shifted from diplomacy to influence.
“There is no obligation to host a consulate that actively works against the interests of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” he said.
Jarlov proposed that Greenland’s Self-Government could instead open a direct representation in Washington, thereby managing diplomatic ties with the U.S. on its own terms and “without harmful interference.”
He also drew a pointed comparison with Russia’s embassy in Copenhagen, stating that despite the war in Ukraine and deep political tensions, the Russian mission has not engaged in the kind of “active, disruptive behavior” seen from the U.S. consulate in Nuuk.
Jarlov maintained that any decision to close the consulate must be made in close cooperation with Greenland’s government.
“We cannot do something like that without their approval. But I believe the government in Nuuk sees what’s going on, and I hope they are ready to act,” he said.
