#Greenland's pro-business opposition #Demokraatit party won Tuesday's closely watched parliamentary #election, beating the incumbent left-wing coalition in a vote dominated by #US President #Trump's threat to take control over the island.

#geopolitics #democracy #authoritarianism #kleptocracy #MafiaState #tyranny #USexpansionism
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greenland-election-tests-independence-ambitions-us-interest-looms-2025-03-11/

#Demokraatit, which favours a slow approach to #independence from #Denmark, secured 29.9% of the votes w/all ballots counted, up from 9.1% in 2021, ahead of the opposition Naleraq party, which favors rapid independence, at 24.5%.

Since taking office, #Trump has vowed to make #Greenland - a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark - part of the #UnitedStates, saying it is vital to #US #security interests, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders.

#geopolitics #kleptocracy #MafiaState #USexpansionism

The vast island, with a population of just 57k, has been caught up in a geopolitical race for dominance in the #Arctic, where melting #IceCaps are making its #resources more accessible & opening new #shipping routes. Both #Russia & #China have intensified #military activity in the region.

"People want change...We want more business to finance our welfare," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, #Demokraatit's leader & a former minister of industry & #minerals.

#Greenland #geopolitics #Trump #kleptocracy

"We don't want independence tomorrow,we want a good foundation,"Nielsen said.
He’ll now get a chance to form a coalition via talks w/other parties.
The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party & its partner Siumut,which also seek a slow path towards #independence, won 36% of votes,down from 66.1% in 2021.
#Greenland is a fmr #Denmark colony & a territory since 1953. It gained some autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was formed,but Copenhagen still controls foreign affairs,defense & monetary policy.

#Trump's vocal interest has shaken up the status quo, & coupled w/the growing pride of the #Indigenous people in their #Inuit culture, put #independence front & center in the election.

In the final debate on #Greenland's state broadcaster KNR late on Mon, leaders of the 5 parties currently in parliament unanimously said they did not trust Trump.

"He is trying to influence us. I can understand if citizens feel insecure," said Erik Jensen, leader of govt coalition partner Siumut.

#geopolitics

“…I think the fear of the #US #imperialist approach has lately become bigger than the anger towards Denmark," said Julie Rademacher, a consultant & fmr adviser to #Greenland's govt.

Reuters spoke to…Greenlanders in Nuuk, all of whom said they favored #independence, although many expressed concern that a swift transition could damage the economy & eliminate Nordic #welfare services like #UniversalHealthcare & free #schooling.

#geopolitics #Trump #kleptocracy #USexpansionism

"We don't want to be part of the #US for obvious reasons; #healthcare & #Trump," said Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee & Nuuk resident, adding that this election was especially important. "We don't like the attention, to put it short."

The island holds substantial natural resources, including critical #minerals such as rare earths used in high-tech industries, ranging from EVs to missile systems.

#Greenland #geopolitics #democracy #kleptocracy #USexpansionism

#Trump initially declined to rule out #military force, alarming many Greenlanders, though he later *softened* his stance, stating he would respect the will of the local people & was "ready to invest billions of dollars" if they joined the US.

#Greenland's PM, Mute Egede, has stressed the island is not for sale & advocated for a broad coalition govt to resist. In an interview aired on Mon, he dismissed Trump's offer as disrespectful, expressing willingness to cooperate w/other countries instead.

@Nonilex

The trick is that those minerals are hundreds of feet under the ice, and the world will not have the technology to extract them for the next 50-100 years.