Greenland election dominated by Donald Trump's comments//
Greenland’s pro-business opposition party, the Democrats, which favors a slow path to independence from Denmark, won Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, a landslide victory against US President Donald Trump’s pledge to take control of the island.
With all ballots counted, the Democrats won 29.9% of the vote, up from 9.1% in 2021, compared to 24.5% for the opposition Nalerak party, which favors rapid independence.
Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has vowed to make Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, part of the United States, saying it is vital to US security interests, a notion most Greenlanders reject.
The vast island, with a population of just 57,000, is embroiled in a geopolitical contest for dominance in the Arctic, where melting ice is making its resources more accessible and opening up new shipping lanes. Both Russia and China have increased military activity in the region.
"People want change... We want more business for our well-being," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats and former Minister of Industry and Minerals.
The ruling Inuit Atakatigit Party and its partner Simut, which is seeking a slow path to independence, received a combined 36% of the vote, down from 66.1% in 2021.
"We respect the election results," Inuit Atakatigit Prime Minister Maut Egede said in a Facebook post, adding that he would listen to any proposals in upcoming coalition talks.
Greenland is a former Danish colony and has been a territory since 1953. It gained some autonomy after its first parliament was formed in 1979, but Copenhagen still controls foreign, defense, and fiscal policy and finances the economy with less than $1 billion a year.
In 2009, it won the right to declare full independence in a referendum, although it did not do so for fear that living standards would decline without Danish economic support.
"I firmly believe that we will soon start living based on our identity, our culture, our own language and start making rules based on us, not based on Denmark," said Kupanuk Olsen, a candidate for the main pro-independence party Nalerak.
Inge Olsvig Brandt, a candidate for the ruling Inuit Atakatigit party, said:
Voting hours were extended by half an hour at some of the Arctic island's 72 polling stations, with about 40,500 people eligible to vote, although final turnout figures were not immediately available.
In a final debate on Greenland’s state broadcaster KNR late Monday night, the leaders of the five parties currently in parliament unanimously said they did not trust Trump.
He is trying to influence us. I understand if citizens feel insecure,” said Erik Jensen, leader of the government coalition partner Siumut.
A January poll found that a majority of Greenlanders favor independence, but over time, they have become divided.
According to Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former adviser to the Greenland government, the election campaign initially focused on anger and frustration over Denmark’s historical injustices.
Reuters spoke to more than a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk, who said they favored independence, although many expressed concern that rapid change could damage the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services such as universal healthcare and free education.
“We don’t want to be part of the United States for obvious reasons: healthcare and Trump,” said Tutta Ling-Larsen, a bank employee and resident of Nuuk, adding that this election is significant. “We don’t like the attention, to put it simply.”
The island is rich in natural resources, including minerals such as rare earths, which are important for high-tech industries, from electric vehicles to missile systems.
However, Greenland has been slow to exploit them due to environmental concerns, harsh weather, and China's near-total control over the sector, making it difficult for companies elsewhere to make a profit or secure buyers.
Investment pledges
Trump initially refused to rule out the possibility of taking control of the territory through military force, which alarmed many Greenlanders, although he later softened his stance, saying he would respect the will of the local people and that he was "ready to invest billions of dollars" if they joined the United States.
Egede has insisted that the island is not for sale and has advocated a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview aired on Danish broadcaster DR on Monday, he dismissed Trump's proposal as disrespectful, expressing a desire to cooperate with other countries instead.
The Danish prime minister has said Greenland is not for sale, but he has made clear that it is up to the local people to determine its future. All six major political parties support independence but disagree on how and when it can be achieved.
👉Watch the video > Greenland: Opposition wins election dominated by Trump's annexation threat
The party believes that US attention strengthens Greenland's position in secession talks with Denmark and aims to bring an agreement with Copenhagen to a vote before the next election in four years.
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