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According to the Guardian, the election in Greenland takes place in the context of this Arctic island facing important choices about its future.
International concern has grown following US President Donald Trump's announcement on Greenland, while Denmark, which still controls the autonomous territory's foreign policy and security, fears the risk of losing a key part of its country.
The key issues in the election will still revolve around education, health care and independence, but this election has a special significance, said Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, a member of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party in the Danish parliament.
President Donald Trump's remarks to the US Congress about the possibility of Greenland becoming part of Washington have drawn much attention to the election. The US has long considered Greenland a strategically important region due to its important geographic location and rich resources.
Before taking office in January 2025, Mr. Trump repeatedly mentioned the possibility of buying Greenland, while warning of tariffs and other possible measures if Denmark did not accept negotiations.
Donald Trump Jr.’s private visit to Greenland’s capital Nuuk, though unofficial, was widely reported and raised international interest. Meanwhile, Denmark is concerned about the rise of a pro-independence movement in Greenland, which could radically change the kingdom’s political structure.
The election has revealed deepening divisions in Greenlandic society. The government of Mute Egede, from the pro-independence Inuit Ataqatigiit party, is under pressure from the main opposition party, Naleraq, which has pushed for a faster separation from Denmark and has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the United States.
The situation became more noticeable after a documentary by Danish television station DR reported that Copenhagen may have profited around 400 billion Danish kroner (about $60 billion) from cryolite mining in Greenland between 1854 and 1987.
While the figure is still disputed, the film has sparked discussions about historical issues surrounding Greenland's relationship with Denmark, with a poll by the newspaper Sermitsiaq showing that more than a third of Greenland voters said the information would influence their voting decisions.
In addition, a series of recent revelations about the Danish government’s treatment of Greenlanders have further heightened tensions. Among them is the IUD scandal, in which 4,500 Greenlandic women and girls were given contraceptives without their consent between 1966 and 1970. In addition, the Danish government is under pressure to change its parental capacity testing policy, which has led to many Inuit children being separated from their families.
With only about 40,000 voters out of a total population of 57,000, election results can be decided by very small margins.
Mr. Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Director of the Nasiffik Center for Foreign Policy and Security at the University of Greenland, commented that this election is a cross between local politics and external geopolitical influences.
He said an independence referendum could happen during his next term, but the chances of Greenland separating from Denmark in the next four years were slim. Even if voters voted for independence, the process could drag on for decades, similar to Brexit, as negotiations with Denmark take time to resolve complex economic and political issues.
One possible scenario is that Greenland will seek to renegotiate its relationship with Denmark within the kingdom. Amid rising tensions, the island could use the situation to pressure Denmark into making further concessions on autonomy.
Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, a Greenlandic politician who previously represented the Siumut party in the Danish parliament but is now running for Naleraq, stressed that Greenland cannot afford to delay deciding on its future as international interest grows. She urged voters to choose candidates with foreign policy competence, as this is more important than ever.
Global interest in Greenland is at an unprecedented level, with heavy international media coverage during the election campaign. At the same time, the business world is paying special attention to the island. Drew Horn, a former member of the Trump administration and now CEO of the mineral investment firm GreenMet, said there are tens of billions of dollars available for investment in Greenland.
Tom Dans, a former Arctic commissioner in the Trump administration, said Greenland is at a turning point, noting that Nuuk is only about a three-hour flight from New York and its strategic potential is enormous.
In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, Greenland’s future will depend on what voters decide in this historic election. Regardless of the outcome, Greenland will remain an important part of the international strategic chessboard, with the competition for influence between the United States and Denmark becoming increasingly fierce.
