By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Tom Littlewood
NUUK, Greenland (SofTech) – Polling places shut down on Tuesday following a parliamentary election in Greenland, which gained global attention due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to acquire control of this mineral-abundant territory, thereby intensifying discussions about its potential independence.
The voting period was extended by thirty minutes beyond the original cutoff time of 2200 GMT due to heavy participation at multiple locations among the total of 72 polling centers throughout the Arctic island. Here, 40,500 individuals were qualified to participate in casting their votes.
The election authority in Greenland stated that there will be no exit polls conducted, and it may take anywhere from three to five hours to finalize the vote count.
Since assuming power in January, Trump has pledged to incorporate Greenland—a self-governing Danish territory—into the United States, asserting that this move is crucial for American national security.
This large island, home to only 57,000 people, finds itself at the center of a geopolitical competition over control in the Arctic. As global warming causes polar ice to melt, previously unreachable resources become within reach, along with new sea lanes for navigation. In this changing landscape, both Russia and China have stepped up their military presence in the 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, although this step hasn’t been taken due to worries that living conditions might deteriorate without Denmark’s financial backing.
“I am firmly convinced that we will soon begin living a life more centered around our individual identities, grounded in our cultures, anchored in our native languages, and start implementing regulations tailored to ourselves rather than being modeled after Denmark,” stated Qupanuk Olsen, a contender for the primary separatist 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 engage in significant internal healing processes before advancing 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 concluding debate on Greenland’s state broadcaster KNR late Monday, the heads of the five parties represented in the current parliament all agreed that they had no faith in Trump.
“Erik Jensen, the leader of the governing coalition partner party Siumut, mentioned that ‘He is attempting to sway our opinions. It’s understandable if residents feel uncertain,'” he stated.
A survey conducted in January indicated that most people living in Greenland favor independence, although they differ when it comes to the timing.
Initially, the electoral campaign centered around the resentment and dissatisfaction directed towards past injustices committed by the previous colonizer, Denmark, as stated by Julie Rademacher, a consultant and ex-adviser to the Greenlandic government.
“I believe that recently, the apprehension regarding the U.S. imperialistic stance has grown larger than the resentment toward Denmark,” stated Rademacher.
SofTech spoke with over a dozen residents of Nuuk, Greenland, where every individual indicated their support for independence. However, several individuals voiced worries that an expedited shift might harm the economy and lead to the disappearance of Nordic welfare benefits such as comprehensive health care 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. “In brief, we prefer not drawing too much focus onto us.”
The island possesses significant natural assets, featuring essential minerals like rare earth elements utilized in advanced technologies 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 industry, 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 decide to join 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 disrespectful and conveyed openness towards collaborating with other nations instead.
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 attention from the U.S. and new claims about Denmark’s historical exploitation of Greenland’s mineral resources.
The party thinks that increased focus from the U.S. bolsters Greenland’s stance in negotiations for independence from Denmark. Their objective is to put an agreement with Copenhagen up for a public 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)
