"Whenever there was any instability in the world, she would joke with her family: Well we will just go to Greenland, nothing ever happens in Greenland. But in the last two weeks during which Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action on the largely autonomous Arctic territory the US president claims he needs for national security purposes despite being part of the Danish kingdom Hegelund, 37, has realised this is suddenly no longer true."
"Look where we are today, she says, laughing incredulously. It's just so crazy. Like many of Greenland's 57,000-strong population, Hegelund has found herself worrying about evacuation plans in case of US invasion, whether or not to flee to Denmark beforehand and fielding questions from her children about becoming American. Others said they have been watchful of the skies and seas around Greenland, tracking US planes on flight trackers and even discussing plans on how to best respond if they were captured."
Greenland has long been perceived as unusually safe, but repeated threats of US military action have shattered that reassurance for many residents. People now worry about evacuation plans, whether to flee to Denmark, and answer anxious questions from children about becoming American. Residents have been tracking US planes, watching skies and seas, and discussing responses if captured. Many are suffering anxiety and sleep problems. The mood has shifted from earlier scepticism and lightheartedness to open alarm, and people are seeking practical guidance from authorities while NGO workers and community members grapple with unprecedented uncertainty.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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