How Greenland chose between independence, Denmark, and the US and what’s next
On 11 March, Greenland held elections. The small population of the world’s largest island voted for a new local parliament. While economic issues and ways to improve citizens' well-being dominated previous elections, this time, the "shadow of Trump" set a different tone.
Rising competition between major powers in the Arctic, Greenland’s strategic location, and its natural resources have increased the island’s attractiveness in the eyes of the US president.
Read more about who came to power in Greenland, what they promise, and how they respond to Donald Trump in the article by Ivanna Kostina, a European Pravda journalist – No chances for Trump: the future Greenland is choosing for itself.
Greenland, once a colony and now an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, gained the right to have its own parliament in 1979.
With the 2009 Self-Government Act, the Greenlandic people were recognised under international law as having the right to self-determination.
Greenland’s current political system is often described as a "mix of self-governance and full independence."
The island does not make independent decisions in matters related to the national constitution, citizenship, the Supreme Court, foreign, defense, and security policy, as well as monetary policy.
In return, Greenland receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of over €500 million for social welfare. Given the island's population of fewer than 57,000, this translates to more than €17,000 per capita.
During this campaign, Danish officials made a point of emphasising their non-interference in Greenlandic affairs, reaffirming in response to Trump that "the island is not for sale" and that its fate lies solely in the hands of its residents.
Pre-election polls showed that while most Greenlanders favour independence, there is no consensus on when it should happen or how it would impact their standard of living.
As a result, three-quarters of Greenlanders voted for parties advocating a cautious approach to independence.
Unexpectedly, the center-right Democrats party emerged as the winner, securing nearly 30% of the vote (compared to just 9% in the previous election).
Historically sceptical of full independence, the Democrats favour expanded autonomy within the Danish Kingdom. Although their platform envisions an independent Greenland with a free-market economy, they warn against hasty moves that could harm people’s livelihoods and the economy.
Notably, the populist Naleraq (Orientation Point) party, the only political force openly advocating stronger cooperation with the US, finished second with 24.5% of the vote.
However, even Naleraq rejects Trump’s idea of Greenland joining the US. Instead, they insist on an immediate referendum on independence, which may complicate their path to forming a coalition.
The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People) party, which was expected to win, surprisingly placed third, securing just seven seats. The party supports an economically and politically independent Greenland but pledged to take its time before holding a referendum.
The social-democratic Siumut party, one of the staunchest supporters of Greenlandic independence and an ally of Denmark’s prime minister’s party, suffered an even steeper decline.
The leader of the winning Democrats party called Trump’s repeated interference "completely unacceptable" and described his references to Greenland as a "commodity" as "utterly repulsive."
Now, the new government must strike a delicate balance: fulfilling Greenlanders' aspirations for independence while preventing Trump from increasing pressure on the island.