Greenland is widely known as the world’s largest island. It covers a massive area of approximately 2,175,600 km2 (840,000 miles2). With its impressive size, Greenland holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest island on the planet.
This island is politically operating under the authority and ownership of Denmark. Greenland itself is located very far away from its governing nation. The distance between the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, and the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is about 3,532 km.
How did a relatively small European nation like Denmark end up owning a massive, distant Arctic territory?
The Legal Foundations of Danish Ownership
Antonios Tzanakopuolos, a Professor of Pulic International Law of the University of Oxford, explains the reason why Denmark “owns” Greenland. The main reason is that Denmark holds what is known in international law as a "Danish title" or sovereignty over the territory. In legal terms, sovereignty is the official word used to say that a specific territory belongs to a particular state.
This ownership was confirmed by two major international events in the 20th century. In 1916, the United States officially recognized Denmark's power over Greenland through a treaty.
In this agreement, the U.S. purchased the Danish West Indies (now the U.S. Virgin Islands) from Denmark for $25 million. As part of the deal, the Americans promised not to oppose Denmark’s rights to the whole island of Greenland.
Moreover, in 1933, the Permanent Court of International Justice in the Hague (the predecessor to today's International Court of Justice) formally recognized Danish sovereignty. This ruling followed a dispute where Norway tried to claim parts of Eastern Greenland, but the court decided the entire island belonged to Denmark.
Even though Greenland has a high degree of autonomy today, the Danish Kingdom still keeps power over security, financial matters, foreign affairs, and defense.
The Scandinavian Connection
The historical relationship between Denmark and Greenland spans over a millennium. The initial connection began in 986 AD when Norse settlers from Norway and Iceland, led by the famous explorer Erik the Red, first arrived on the island.
During the 13th century, these early settlers pledged their absolute allegiance to the Norwegian monarch, which officially turned Greenland into a Norwegian possession. Later, in 1380, the separate kingdoms of Denmark and Norway were united under a single royal crown.
In 1814, massive geopolitical shift occurred, following the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars. Under the historic Treaty of Kiel, the long-standing political union between Denmark and Norway was officially dissolved.
While Norway was forced into a brand-new union with Sweden, the treaty specifically stated that Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland would remain under the control of the Danish Crown.
For two centuries, Greenland was managed as a Danish colony. This status officially ended in 1953 when the Danish Constitution was revised to integrate Greenland as a regular county within the Kingdom. This move was part of a decolonization process and was recognized by the United Nations in 1954.
Over time, the people of Greenland desired more autonomy. In 1979, Greenland achieved "Home Rule," allowing it to establish its own parliament and local government. In 2009, this was upgraded to "Self-Government" after a referendum.
Under the Act on Greenland Self-Government, the people of Greenland are recognized as a people under international law with the right to self-determination.
Today, Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Danish Realm. The local government manages nearly all internal affairs, including police, justice, and mineral resources. However, Denmark still holds formal responsibility for foreign affairs, defense, and security.
