By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tom Littlewood
NUUK, Greenland (Curek News) – Polling places shut their doors on Tuesday following a national election in Greenland that gained global attention due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to assert authority over the resource-abundant territory, intensifying discussions about self-governance.
The voting period was extended by thirty minutes beyond the scheduled 2200 GMT cutoff due to heavy participation at numerous polling places throughout the Arctic island. A total of 72 polling stations were operational for the approximately 40,500 individuals qualified to vote.
The election authority in Greenland stated that there will be no exit polls conducted, and it may take from three to five hours to finalize the vote count.
After assuming office in January, Trump declared his intention to incorporate Greenland—a self-governing Danish autonomous territory—into the United States, citing its importance for American national security.
This large island, home to only 57,000 people, finds itself at the center of a geopolitical competition for control over the Arctic, as receding polar ice exposes valuable resources and creates new sea lanes. Both Russia and China have increased their military presence in this area.
Greenland was once a Danish colony and became a territory in 1953. In 1979, it achieved partial self-governance with the establishment of its initial parliament; however, Denmark retains control over matters such as international relations, defense, and currency policies. Additionally, Denmark contributes approximately $1 billion annually to Greenland’s economy.
In 2009, it gained the authority to proclaim complete independence via a referendum; however, this step hasn't been taken due to worries that living conditions might deteriorate without Denmark’s financial assistance.
“I firmly believe that we will soon begin living a life more centered around our individual identities, rooted in our cultures and languages, and start implementing regulations that reflect our values rather than those of Denmark,” stated Qupanuk Olsen, a candidate for the primary independence-focused party Naleraq.
Inge Olsvig Brandt, who is running as a member of the governing Inuit Ataqatigiit party, stated:
At this moment, we don't require independence. There are numerous tasks we need to tackle first. It seems essential for us to collaborate, delve into our past, and undertake significant internal healing before progressing further.
INUIT PRIDE
Trump's vocal interest has shaken up the status quo, and coupled with the growing pride of the Indigenous people in their Inuit culture, put independence front and centre in the election.
During the last debate held on Monday evening by Greenland's national broadcaster KNR, all party leaders present in the current Parliament expressed without exception their lack of confidence in Trump.
"Erik Jensen, who leads the governing coalition party Siumut, mentioned that he understands if citizens feel uneasy about this attempt to sway our opinions," he stated.
A survey conducted in January indicated that most people living in Greenland favor independence, though they differ when it comes to the timing.
Initially, the electoral campaign centered around the resentment and frustrations directed towards past injustices committed by the previous colonial authority, Denmark, as stated by Julie Rademacher, a consultant and ex-adviser to the Greenlandic government.
"I believe that recently, the apprehension about the American imperialistic stance has grown larger than the resentment toward Denmark," stated Rademacher.
Curek News spoke with over a dozen residents of Nuuk, Greenland, who all indicated their support for independence. However, several individuals noted concerns that an immediate shift might harm the economy and result in the loss of Nordic welfare benefits such as comprehensive healthcare and tuition-free education.
"Ideally, we wouldn’t align ourselves with the U.S., primarily due to issues around healthcare and because of Trump,” stated Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, who works at a bank and lives in Nuuk. She emphasized that this particular election holds significant importance. “To sum up, we prefer not drawing too much notice.”
The island boasts significant natural resources, featuring essential minerals like rare earth elements that are crucial for high-tech sectors, spanning from electric cars to missile systems.
Nevertheless, Greenland has been hesitant to exploit these resources because of environmental worries, harsh climatic conditions, and China’s dominant position in the market, making it challenging for businesses from other countries to turn a profit or find customers.
INVESTMENT PLEDGES
Initially, Trump refrained from ruling out the use of military force, which alarmed numerous Greenlanders. However, he subsequently moderated his position, saying he would honor the preferences of the locals and expressed readiness to invest billions of dollars should they choose to become part of the U.S.
The Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute Egede, emphasized that his country is not up for grabs and called for forming a wide-ranging coalition government to fend off outside pressures. During an interview broadcasted on Monday via Danish network DR, he rejected President Trump’s proposal as dismissive, indicating a readiness to work alongside other nations rather than entertain such offers.
The Prime Minister of Denmark stated that Greenland is not for sale, emphasizing that the decision regarding its future lies with the local population.
The six primary political parties all endorse independence yet vary in their approaches and timelines for achieving it.
The Naleraq party, which supports independence, is the main opposition group and has been gaining strength as the election approaches. This surge is partly due to increased U.S. involvement and new claims about Denmark’s historical exploitation of Greenland's mineral resources.
The party thinks that increased U.S. focus bolsters Greenland's stance in negotiations for independence from Denmark and intends to put an agreement with Copenhagen up for a vote before the upcoming election in four years.
(Reported by Tom Little and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; extra reporting provided by Louise Rasmussen, Johan Ahlander, Stine Jacobsen, and Terje Solsvik; Edited by Sharon Singleton and Alexandra Hudson)
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