NUUK, Greenland — On Tuesday, polling stations in Greenland closed after a parliamentary election that gained international attention due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to take control of the mineral-rich island. This has sparked a debate about Greenland’s independence, igniting a sense of pride and determination among its people.
The voting period was extended by half an hour past the 2200 GMT deadline due to high turnout at the 72 polling stations across the Arctic island. With 40,500 eligible voters, the election has been closely watched both locally and globally.
There were no exit polls, and the final results are expected to take between three to five hours to be announced, according to Greenland’s election authority.
Since assuming office in January, President Trump has expressed his desire to make Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a part of the United States, citing its strategic importance to U.S. security interests. This has put Greenland in the spotlight of a geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic, where melting ice caps have made its resources more accessible and opened new shipping routes. Both Russia and China have increased their military presence in the region, adding to the significance of Greenland’s position.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, has been a territory since 1953. It gained some autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was formed, but Denmark still controls foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy. In addition, Denmark provides just under $1 billion a year to the Greenlandic economy.
In 2009, Greenland won the right to declare full independence through a referendum, but it has not yet done so due to concerns about the potential impact on its economy without Denmark’s support. However, the recent election has shown a strong desire among the people to take control of their own destiny.
“I strongly believe that we will soon start living a life based on our culture, our language, and our own regulations, not those imposed by Denmark,” said Qupanuk Olsen, a candidate for the main pro-independence party, Naleraq.
Inge Olsvig Brandt, a candidate for the ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit Party, expressed a different view, stating, “We don’t need independence right now. We have many things to work on. We need to focus on ourselves, our history, and heal before taking the next step.”
President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has disrupted the status quo and has brought independence to the forefront of the election. In the final debate on Greenland’s state broadcaster KNR, leaders of the five parties currently in parliament unanimously expressed their lack of trust in President Trump.
“He is trying to influence us, and I can understand if citizens feel insecure,” said Erik Jensen, leader of the government coalition partner, Siumut.
According to Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former advisor to Greenland’s government, the initial focus of the election campaign was on addressing historical wrongdoings by former colonial ruler Denmark. However, she believes that the fear of the U.S. imperialist approach has become a bigger concern than the anger towards Denmark.
In a recent interview with Reuters, more than a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk expressed their support for independence. However, many also expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on the economy and the loss of Nordic welfare services, such as universal healthcare and free schooling.
Greenland holds significant natural resources, including critical minerals like rare earths, which are used in high-tech industries such as electric vehicles and missile systems. However, the extraction of these resources has been slow due to environmental concerns, harsh weather conditions, and China’s near-total control of the sector. This has made it challenging for companies outside of China to make a profit or secure buyers.
President Trump initially declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland, causing alarm among many Greenlanders. However, he later softened his stance, stating that he would respect the will of the local people and was willing to invest billions of dollars if Greenland joined the U.S.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has made it clear that the island is not for sale and has advocated for a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In a recent interview with Danish broadcaster DR, he dismissed President Trump’s offer as disrespectful and expressed a willingness to cooperate with other countries instead.
Denmark’s Prime Minister has also stated that Greenland is not for sale and that it is up to the local people to
