Greenlanders are casting their votes in a high-stakes election Tuesday, as the world’s largest island finds itself at the center of international attention—and in the crosshairs of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Just weeks into his second term, Trump has renewed his interest in acquiring the Arctic territory from Denmark, calling it an “absolute necessity” for U.S. strategic interests. His comments have drawn sharp rebukes from both Greenland and Denmark, as pro-independence voices gain momentum in the island’s political landscape.
Greenland, which has governed itself since 2009 while remaining a territory of Denmark, is holding parliamentary elections for its 31-member legislature, the Inatsisartut. Six major parties are competing, with 16 seats needed for a majority.
The ruling coalition of Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede’s left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) and the social democratic Siumut party currently holds 22 seats combined. They face challenges from opposition parties, including the pro-independence Naleraq, the centrist Democrats, and the conservative Atassut.
A January poll by research agency Verian suggests that IA could secure 31% of the vote, with Siumut trailing by nine percentage points. The recently formed Qulleq party, which prioritizes rapid independence and oil extraction, has also gained traction in the lead-up to the vote.
The key issues in the election include Greenland’s economic future, its ties with Denmark, and its relationship with the United States. Fishing remains the backbone of Greenland’s economy, supplemented by annual financial grants from Copenhagen. But with the island’s vast untapped mineral wealth and strategic location in the Arctic, there is growing debate over how it should chart its future.
Trump’s interest in Greenland dates back to his first term in 2019, when he proposed purchasing the island from Denmark. At the time, the suggestion was dismissed as absurd. But with his return to office, he has doubled down, declaring in his recent State of the Union address that the U.S. will acquire Greenland “one way or the other.”
His remarks have sparked outrage in Nuuk and Copenhagen.
“Greenland is ours,” Egede stated bluntly, taking to Facebook to reinforce his position. “We don’t want to be Americans, nor Danes. We are Kalaallit. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also dismissed Trump’s ambitions, saying he doubted Greenlanders would leave Denmark “only to become an integrated part of America.”
Greenland is strategically crucial, sitting between North America and Europe along key Arctic shipping routes. The island also hosts the U.S. Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a key military outpost established under a defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S.
Beyond its location, Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals such as yttrium, scandium, neodymium, and dysprosium—elements vital for producing high-tech goods, including batteries, wind turbines, and military equipment. The island also has significant oil and gas reserves, making it an attractive prospect for global powers.
Greenland’s road to independence has been a long-discussed but complex issue. The island gained self-rule in 1979 and expanded its autonomy with the Self-Government Act in 2009. While most Greenlanders favor independence, economic realities pose a major challenge.
Currently, Denmark provides Greenland with an annual grant of 3.9 billion kroner ($560 million), which covers about two-thirds of the island’s budget. Leaving Denmark would mean losing this financial lifeline, raising concerns about how Greenland would sustain itself.
Polls indicate that while many Greenlanders support independence, they are hesitant if it would mean a drop in living standards. A recent survey found that 45% would oppose independence if it led to economic decline, while 28% are outright against separation.
Egede, who supports eventual independence, has acknowledged the economic hurdles but insists that the groundwork is being laid. “Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state,” he said earlier this year. A referendum on independence is expected in April, following the legislative elections.
On election day, Greenlandic politicians across the spectrum made it clear that Trump’s ambitions are unwelcome.
Inge Olsvig Brandt, an Inuit Ataqatigiit candidate, dismissed the idea outright.
“Oh my God, yeah, President Trump,” she said. “The man who is taking all the rights from his own people and from Indigenous people—he doesn’t belong to Greenland at all.”
“I think he should stay in the United States and focus on his own country. We don’t need him here,” she added.
Despite Trump’s insistence that Greenland is critical for U.S. security and international stability, his proposal is widely viewed as an overreach.
Chita, an election secretary for Inuit Ataqatigiit, said the U.S. president’s remarks should not even be entertained.
“I don’t think we should take him very seriously,” she said. “This election is about our future. It’s not about Denmark. It’s not about America. It’s not about Donald Trump.”
Bentiaraq Ottosen, a lawmaker from Atassut, the only party opposed to independence, also rejected Trump’s interest in Greenland.
“We are not interested in the U.S.,” he said, calling Trump’s approach “aggressive and offensive.”
As results rolled in Wednesday, a surprising surge in support for opposition parties disrupted the political status quo.
Both Demokraatit and Naleraq made significant gains, weakening the ruling IA-Siumut coalition. While all major parties except Atassut support eventual independence, they are divided on the timeline. Demokraatit favors a slow and measured transition, while Naleraq wants immediate independence.
Doris J. Jensen, a former health minister and longtime Siumut lawmaker, described Trump’s approach as “a bit crazy.”
“We live in a democratic country with democratic values,” she said. “It’s not acceptable that he wants to own our country and control us. We’ve already experienced colonialism from Denmark—we don’t want to experience it again from the U.S.”
With the election shaking up Greenland’s political landscape, the next steps remain uncertain. Coalition negotiations are expected to take days, if not weeks.
The independence referendum in April will be the next major political milestone. Whether Greenland moves forward with a clear path to sovereignty—or remains economically tied to Denmark for the foreseeable future—will depend on the political maneuvering in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland has only strengthened national identity among Greenlanders. CT Sigmundsen of Naleraq summed up the prevailing sentiment:
“He can dream, but we will take our own country—not from Denmark, and certainly not from America.”
