Greenland’s Demokraatit Party won a surprise victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of bringing the island under American control.
The center-right party supports a gradual move toward independence from Denmark and has strongly opposed Trump’s remarks on acquiring the Arctic territory, reports the Associated Press.
Demokraatit leaders say that Greenland’s future should be determined by its own people, not foreign interests. The island, rich in rare earth minerals essential for modern technology and renewable energy, also holds strategic value as the site of a US air base and a key location for North Atlantic air and sea routes.
The election results send a clear signal to Trump, Demokraatit leader Jens-Friederik Nielsen told Sky News.
“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. And we want to build our own country by ourselves, not with his hope.”
Trump has been vocal about wanting Greenland, telling Congress last week that he expected the US to gain control of the island “one way or the other.”
Although Greenland’s separation from Denmark was not directly on the ballot, it was a major issue in the election. Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and still oversees its foreign and defense policy.
The island, home to 56,000 people, has been moving toward independence since 2009. The newly elected 31-member parliament will now play a key role in deciding if and when Greenland should declare full independence.
Four of the five main parties in the election backed independence but disagreed on the timeline and approach. Naleraq, which placed second, is the most aggressive in pushing for separation, while Demokraatit prefers a more gradual transition.
According to Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation KNR TV, Demokraatit won nearly 30 percent of the vote, a significant jump from 9 percent in the last election. Naleraq finished second with nearly 25 percent, up from 12 percent in 2021.
The center-right party supports a gradual move toward independence from Denmark and has strongly opposed Trump’s remarks on acquiring the Arctic territory, reports the Associated Press.
Demokraatit leaders say that Greenland’s future should be determined by its own people, not foreign interests. The island, rich in rare earth minerals essential for modern technology and renewable energy, also holds strategic value as the site of a US air base and a key location for North Atlantic air and sea routes.
The election results send a clear signal to Trump, Demokraatit leader Jens-Friederik Nielsen told Sky News.
“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. And we want to build our own country by ourselves, not with his hope.”
Trump has been vocal about wanting Greenland, telling Congress last week that he expected the US to gain control of the island “one way or the other.”
Although Greenland’s separation from Denmark was not directly on the ballot, it was a major issue in the election. Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and still oversees its foreign and defense policy.
The island, home to 56,000 people, has been moving toward independence since 2009. The newly elected 31-member parliament will now play a key role in deciding if and when Greenland should declare full independence.
Four of the five main parties in the election backed independence but disagreed on the timeline and approach. Naleraq, which placed second, is the most aggressive in pushing for separation, while Demokraatit prefers a more gradual transition.
According to Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation KNR TV, Demokraatit won nearly 30 percent of the vote, a significant jump from 9 percent in the last election. Naleraq finished second with nearly 25 percent, up from 12 percent in 2021.
