On Tuesday, Greenlanders are voting in general elections, which some locals see as a historic opportunity to free themselves from Danish rule at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is proposing that the island join the United States.
Elections for the 31-seat parliament have the potential to strengthen U.S. influence in Greenland—a sparsely populated island that is a focal point in the geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic.
A January poll showed that a majority of Greenland’s 57,000 residents support independence, but opinions are divided on the timing and potential impact of such a decision on their standard of living. Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, stating that the island is vital to U.S. security interests.
Initially, he refused to rule out the use of military force, which alarmed many Greenlanders, but he later softened his stance, claiming he would respect the will of the local population and is “prepared to invest billions of dollars” if Greenland joins the U.S.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede emphasized that the island is not for sale and advocated for the creation of a broad coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview on Monday, he dismissed Trump’s proposal as disrespectful and expressed readiness to cooperate with other countries.
Nonetheless, Trump’s interest has shaken the status quo in Greenland and, combined with the growing pride of the indigenous population in their Inuit culture, has brought the question of independence to the forefront during the elections.
