Internasjonalt seminar:
Who owns Greenland? And why it's not for sale
The future and legal status of Greenland is presently one of the causes contributing to a growing political divide between Europe and the US.
The reason lies in US President Donald Trump’s ambition to obtain Greenland to allegedly ensure domestic and international security. What is more, President Trump has questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, expressing in his 2026 Davos Forum Speech desire for the US to acquire ownership over Greenland.
This seminar brings together international law experts from UiT to discuss topical issues related to the status of Greenland, namely: Why Greenland is part of the Danish state? Can Denmark sell or give Greenland away to the US? Why does the decision as to Greenland’s future rest with its indigenous people? And what consequences may the US’ claims to Greenland have for global security?
SPEAKERS
Professor Sondre Torp Helmersen, Research Group for Human Rights and International Law, Faculty of Law, UiT. Professor Helmersen specializes in international law. He is the author of Folkerett i et nøtteskall (2018) and Folkerett (2025), textbooks used in international law courses at various universities in Norway.
Dr Apostolos Tsiouvalas, Researcher at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea, Faculty of Law, UiT and Senior Fellow at The Arctic Institute. Dr Tsiouvalas specializes, among other legal fields, in indigenous rights in the Arctic and has conducted empirical legal research in Greenland.
Professor Magne Frostad, Vice-Dean for Research, Faculty of Law, UiT. Professor Frostad’s research focuses on constitutional and international law. He specializes in international law rules concerning use of armed force.
*Moderator: Associate Professor Gaiane Nuridzhanian, Leader of the Research Group for Human Rights and International Law, Faculty of Law, UiT
**The seminar is organized by the Research Group for Human Rights and International Law at the University of Tromsø (UiT).