Massive demonstrations organized by Greenlandic associations have been taking place across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest US President Donald Trump's ambitions to take over the Arctic island.

The aim of the protests is "to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's democracy and fundamental human rights," said Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, on its website.

Thousands assemble in big Danish cities

Thousands of demonstrators assembled in Copenhagen's City Hall Square at 12:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT), chanting "Greenland is not for sale" and holding banners with slogans such as "Hands off Greenland." They then marched towards the US embassy. 

"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, told the protesters.

"Greenland and the Greenlanders have involuntarily ‍become the front in the fight for democracy and human rights," she added.

Protests were also ongoing in the Danish cities of Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense.

Protesters gather in Nuuk

The demonstration in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, began 4:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), according to the organizers, who say it is "against the United States' illegal plans to take control of Greenland."

Several thousand protesters, including the territory's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who was seen waving a Greenlandic flag, chanted slogans and sang traditional Inuit songs in the light rain.

Many of them wore caps bearing the slogan "Make America Go Away," an AFP reporter noted, referencing Trump's "Make America Great Again" brand.

Demonstrators marched to the US consulate carrying Greenlandic flags. The territory's total population is about 57,000.

Photos show Greenlanders and Danes march against Trump’s takeover threats

Dispute over Greenland intensifies

Tensions around Greenland have risen this month amid repeated insistence by US President Donald Trump that he wants the US to take control of Greenland.

On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff on 8 European nations, including Germany, that oppose his plans to take over the semiautonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Protests coincide with visit of US delegation to Denmark

The protests also coincide with the visit of a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers, a group mostly made up of Democrats, to Denmark.

US lawmakers said they were visiting Copenhagen in a bid to "lower the temperature" as tensions remain between EU and US ambitions over the future of Greenland. 

Europeans have also shown support for Denmark by deploying  small numbers of troops to Greenland in the face of US threats to acquire the Danish territory.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar, Jenipher Camino Gonzalez