Greenlanders are set to head to the polls on Tuesday for their parliamentary election, an event that could prove historic. This significance arises not from any major alterations within the nation but rather from the geopolitical implications it may convey.
While independence from Denmark is not on the ballot, the outcome of this election will indicate how Greenland may navigate its future—potentially moving towards autonomy from Copenhagen and addressing perceived threats from President Donald Trump.
Historically, parliamentary elections on the world’s largest island, home to fewer than 60,000 residents, have garnered limited media coverage due to their minimal impact on global affairs.
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However, everything shifted in January when Trump hinted at the possibility of “acquiring” Greenland through economic or military means, expressing ongoing interest in the strategically vital island.
The majority of Greenlanders favor independence from Denmark, yet they largely oppose Trump’s aspirations for the island.
No candidate in this election has campaigned for a U.S. annexation, but the leading opposition party, Naleraq, which currently holds only five of the 31 parliamentary seats, may propose a solution to gain independence while also addressing Trump’s interests.
Qupanuk Olsen, a 39-year-old candidate from the Naleraq party who boasts a significant following of over a million across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, recently shared a video discussing her stance.
While she refrained from directly addressing Trump’s ambitions to maintain her social media presence as “A-political as possible,” she did voice her support for expanding Greenland’s partnerships.
“I strongly believe in Greenland’s independence,” she stated, adding that achieving this requires expanding collaborations and establishing business relationships beyond Denmark.
“We Greenlanders, Kalaallit, deserve to be independent,” she emphasized, referring to the Greenlandic Inuit ethnic group. “I hope we will strengthen our connections with our fellow Inuit in Canada and Alaska significantly more in the near future.”
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Although Greenland gained self-rule in 1979, Denmark still oversees defense and foreign policy issues. The Naleraq party advocates for a swift transition to complete independence.
The party argues that this could be achieved by enhancing existing business opportunities, particularly in the fishing industry, and by establishing defense agreements with nations like the U.S., which would allow military operations from Greenland in exchange for security assurances, without becoming a U.S. territory.
It remains uncertain whether such an agreement would satisfy Trump, who may view the Arctic nation as a valuable source of rare earth minerals and oil and gas reserves—access that Greenland has denied even to the EU.
The White House did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital about whether strengthening ties with Greenland would meet Trump’s ambitions. However, Trump did reiterate his stance on the island nation over the weekend.
“As I made clear during my Joint Address to Congress, the United States strongly supports the people of Greenland’s right to determine their own future,” he remarked on his social media platform Truth Social. “We will continue to keep you safe, as we have since World War II.”
“We are ready to invest billions of dollars to create new jobs and make you rich – And, if you so choose, we welcome you to be a part of the Greatest Nation anywhere in the World, the United States of America,” he added.
Following his address to Congress, Trump faced criticism for his softer tone regarding Greenland, despite concluding with, “One way or the other, we’re going to get it.”
A January poll revealed that approximately 85% of Greenlanders oppose Trump’s efforts to make Greenland a part of the U.S., including Prime Minister Mute Egede, a strong advocate for independence from Denmark and a vocal opponent of Trump’s ambitions for Greenland.
Egede’s Inuit Ataqatigiit party, currently holding 11 seats, is anticipated to secure an even greater majority following the Tuesday election.
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Egede has repeatedly informed the U.S. president that Greenland is “not for sale,” and on Monday expressed concerns over Trump’s unpredictability, which he believes is contributing to international unrest.
“The things that are happening in the world right now worry me quite a lot,” Egede told Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR). “There is a world order that is faltering on many fronts, and perhaps a president in the United States who is very unpredictable in a way that makes people feel insecure.”
