Thousands of people marched through Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Saturday to protest against US plans to annex the self-governing Danish territory. A similar rally was held in Copenhagen.

The protests came in response to recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who has declared Washington would obtain the territory “the easy way” or “the hard way,” citing the need for Greenland for “national security.” 

Videos obtained by RT show a large column of several thousand protesters marching toward the US consulate in Nuuk. Demonstrators carried Greenlandic flags and held placards reading “Greenland is not for sale” and “We do not want to be Americans.” Some participants were seen dancing with a tambourine, a local tradition used to resolve disputes.

Authorities estimated that about 4,000 people took part in the demonstration in Nuuk, a city of roughly 19,000 to 20,000 residents.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the protest, holding a sign “We shape our future.”

A similar rally was held in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Demonstrators there chanted “Kalaallit Nunaat,” Greenland’s name in the Greenlandic language, and displayed banners reading “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders.”

“I am very grateful for the huge support we as Greenlanders receive … We are also sending a message to the world that you all must wake up,” Julie Rademacher, chair of Uagut, an organisation representing Greenlanders in Denmark, said. “Greenlanders have involuntarily become the front in the fight for democracy and human rights.”

“It’s very important that we stay together and show that Greenland is not for sale and we would not like to be an American or be annexed by the USA,” Greenlandic politician Erik Jensen added.

On Saturday, Trump announced tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, saying the measures would remain in place until a “complete and total purchase” of Greenland is achieved.

Both Danish and Greenlandic authorities have rejected any prospect of ceding the island, insisting that its future must be decided by its people, who voted in 2008 to retain autonomous status within the Kingdom of Denmark.