Greenland's Election Winners Oppose Trump's Attempt to Gain Control

Jens-Frederik Nielsen (Left), leader of the Demokraatit party

 Greenland's Election Winners Oppose Trump's Attempt to Gain Control

Greenland’s incoming prime minister firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to assert control over the island, emphasizing that Greenlanders should determine their own future as they advance toward independence from Denmark.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s Demokraatit, a business-friendly party advocating for a gradual move toward independence, secured an unexpected victory in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, surpassing the two left-leaning parties that previously governed. Although Trump’s interest in Greenland was widely unpopular among its residents, the election campaign revolved primarily around healthcare and education rather than geopolitical concerns.

However, Nielsen quickly responded on Wednesday to Trump, who had recently told Congress that the U.S. required Greenland for national security purposes and intended to acquire it “one way or the other.”

"We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our own independence in the future," Nielsen, 33, told Britain’s Sky News. "And we want to build our own country by ourselves."

Despite this, Trump suggested during a Thursday Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Greenland’s election outcome was “very good” for “us” and described the leading candidate as “a very good person, as far as we’re concerned.”

A Path Toward Independence

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has been progressing toward independence since 2009, when Denmark acknowledged its right to self-determination under international law. Among the five major political parties in Greenland, four advocate for independence, though they differ in their strategies and timelines.

Home to approximately 56,000 people, predominantly of Indigenous Inuit heritage, Greenland has drawn global interest since Trump reaffirmed his intentions to acquire the territory shortly after resuming office in January.

Trump’s strategic interest in Greenland stems from its critical position along key North Atlantic air and sea routes, as well as the presence of the U.S.-operated Pituffik Space Base, which plays a crucial role in missile defense and space surveillance. Additionally, the island possesses substantial reserves of rare-earth minerals vital for technological advancements, including mobile devices and renewable energy solutions.

During his discussion with Rutte, Trump questioned Denmark’s historical claim over Greenland, stating, "Denmark’s very far away" and implying its control over the territory was questionable.

"A boat landed there 200 years ago or something. And they say they have rights to it," Trump said. "I don’t know if that’s true. I don’t think it is, actually."

Trump argued that U.S. control over Greenland was significant for national security and even suggested NATO could play a role. However, Rutte refrained from engaging in that discussion. Trump also noted the existing American military presence in Greenland, hinting, "Maybe you’ll see more and more soldiers going there. I don’t know."

Despite these discussions, Greenland’s election was not directly influenced by Trump’s aspirations.

The newly elected 31 members of Greenland’s parliament will now focus on addressing key issues such as economic diversification, infrastructure development, and healthcare improvements while also determining their approach to managing Trump's America First policies.

Demokraatit secured 29.9% of the vote by prioritizing housing improvements and education while advocating for a cautious approach to independence, ensuring Greenland attains self-sufficiency first. This marked a significant rise from its fourth-place finish in the previous election, where it garnered just 9.1% of the vote.

Nuuk resident Anthon Nielsen viewed Demokraatit’s success as beneficial for the nation.

"Most politicians want Greenland to be independent," he said. "But this party who won, they don’t want to hurry things so everything must be done right."

Carina Ren, head of the Arctic program at Aalborg University in Copenhagen, remarked that the election results demonstrated Greenlanders’ focus on domestic priorities rather than external pressures from Trump.

"The voters have been able to drag down all the drama, all the alarmist talk from the outside to say, ‘Well, this is about our everyday lives, our everyday concerns as citizens. Where are we going, how are we going to develop our society from the inside.’"

Now, Demokraatit must shift its focus to forming a governing coalition.

Naleraq, the party most aggressively advocating for rapid independence, finished second with 24.5% of the vote, followed by Inuit Ataqatigiit, the former ruling party, which secured 21.4%.

"What approach to independence will win the day will ultimately depend on if Demokraatit decides to form a coalition government, and if so, with which party," said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.

An Unexpected Victory

As election results were announced, Nielsen appeared visibly surprised by Demokraatit’s strong performance, with photographs capturing his broad smile and celebratory applause at a post-election gathering.

Following the victory, Nielsen expressed his party’s intent to engage with all other parties to shape Greenland’s future political course.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen extended his congratulations to Demokraatit but cautioned that Greenland’s new government would likely face significant pressure from Trump.

"It’s not the case that you can just take part of the Danish Realm," Danish broadcaster DR quoted him as saying. "The future of Greenland is based on what the Greenlandic people and government want."

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede had called for early elections last month, emphasizing the need for national unity during what he described as an unprecedented and serious period for the country.

After the election results were finalized, Egede took to Facebook to thank voters for their participation and stated that the parties were now prepared to enter coalition negotiations to establish a government.