Greenland heads to the polls in a highly significant election, with Prime Minister Múte B. Egede warning that voters face a “fateful choice” that could shape the Arctic island’s future. The election has drawn global attention, particularly from the United States and Denmark, as discussions over independence and US influence intensify.
The vote takes place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical interest in Greenland, particularly following US President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the United States could acquire the autonomous territory. Trump has suggested that military and economic measures could be employed if necessary. The election outcome will be closely monitored in Copenhagen, Washington, and across Europe, as Greenland’s strategic importance and vast natural resources remain a point of contention.
Denmark’s Concerns and US Influence
Denmark, which ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953 and still controls its foreign and security policy, is wary of the election’s implications. Greenland, along with the Faroe Islands, remains part of the Danish kingdom, but Copenhagen fears that a strong performance by Naleraq, the leading pro-independence opposition party, could accelerate Greenland’s shift towards closer ties with the US.
The sole polling station in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, opened at 11am GMT, with results expected in the early hours of Wednesday. In the final hours before voting began, Egede, who leads the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) party, criticised Trump for being “unpredictable” and for showing a lack of respect towards Greenland.
Prime Minister’s Warning on Trump’s Approach
Speaking to Danish broadcaster DR, Egede expressed concern over global instability and what he sees as Trump’s disregard for Greenlanders.
“It is a fateful choice we have,” he said. “There is a world order that is faltering on many fronts, and perhaps a president in the United States who is very unpredictable in a way that makes people feel insecure. We deserve to be treated with respect, and I don’t think the American president has done that lately since he took office.”
Trump, in a speech to Congress last week, vowed to “acquire Greenland one way or the other” and made a direct appeal to Greenlanders, promising significant US investment in job creation and economic development.
However, while some in Nuuk are open to stronger collaboration with the US, Trump’s remarks have been widely criticised and dismissed as unrealistic.
Greenland’s Response to Trump’s Remarks
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s Minister for Natural Resources, Equality, Business, and Justice, described Trump’s latest comments as “crass and inappropriate” and warned that such an approach would not foster closer ties. “It’s the wrong way to do foreign policy if you want to get a closer tie with Greenland,” she said.
The election features six parties, with only Naleraq advocating an immediate vote on independence. While most other parties, apart from the unionist Atassut, support eventual secession from Denmark, they differ on timing and strategy.
Greenland’s independence movement has gained momentum in recent years, particularly in response to scandals involving Denmark’s treatment of Greenlanders, such as the involuntary fitting of contraceptive devices in thousands of Inuit women and the controversial “parenting competency” tests that separated Indigenous children from their families.
Economic Considerations and Natural Resources
With the US increasingly vocal about Greenland’s potential, particularly in its mineral resources, Egede’s IA and the Siumut party have pledged to establish a national mining company to ensure greater local control over resource revenues.
Nathanielsen, however, noted that despite the geopolitical drama, voters are primarily concerned with domestic issues such as education and healthcare. “We are getting asked the exact same questions as usual by voters. But on top of that, there is, of course, a real concern about what is going on the world stage, especially with regards to Greenland.”
Trump’s promises of investment remain vague, she added. “Right now, it is just talk, and it is very unclear what they [the US] actually think and what he [Trump] means by making Greenlanders rich. That’s still to be seen.”
Voter Sentiment and Independence Debate
For younger voters, the election represents an existential crossroads. Aviâja Korneliussen, an 18-year-old high school student voting for the first time, said she was excited but also apprehensive about the global implications. “We don’t know how it’s going to affect our communities, and we know that the whole world is watching and waiting.”
Korneliussen remains undecided between Naleraq, IA, and the Democrats but favours independence and greater cooperation within the Arctic region rather than continued ties with Denmark or Europe.
However, she is sceptical of aligning too closely with the US. “I’m a bit conflicted because we know [what] the US has done to their own Indigenous groups and how they can manipulate things to be their way. But I get the idea they want to work together to be more independent from Denmark, so it’s a bit 50/50 for me.”
Trump’s approach, she added, had been “disrespectful … he looks at us as objects to own” and she did not want Greenland to become “the 51st state.”
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