Greenland research centre suspends new work with US

Greenland's top environmental and natural-resource research centre is stopping new collaboration with US partners to protect its data and scientists, its head said Wednesday.

The decision comes amid tension over President Donald Trump's vows to seize the mineral-rich island.

"I can confirm that we... made the decision to only engage in projects with US partners that we already are or have been working with," Josephine Nymand, director of the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources told AFP.

In an interview with Greenland's public broadcaster, KNR, she said the decision was based on a need to protect the institute's data and scientists, citing the Trump administration's deletion of troves of scientific data and refusal to allow some foreign scientists into the United States.

"I can't do much to help our compatriots if they are detained" on arrival in the United States, she told KNR.

"That's why we decided the best thing was not to go there in the current situation."

Trump's administration has cut billions of dollars in public research funding and fired government scientists since he returned to the White House in January 2025.

Reports and data on climate and the environment have been targeted for large-scale deletion from government websites.

The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources carries out research on Arctic ecosystems and monitors the island's environment and biological resources.