Greenland’s Pro-Business Party Wins Amid Annexation Threat

Greenland’s pro-business opposition party, Demokraatit, has won the Arctic island’s closely-watched parliamentary election, signaling a shift in political priorities as calls for independence from Denmark grow louder. The election, held on Tuesday, was heavily influenced by US President Donald Trump’s controversial annexation threat and the island’s strategic importance in the Arctic.

The center-right Demokraatit party secured 29.9% of the vote, surpassing the ruling left-wing party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), according to preliminary official results.

“People want change … We want more business to finance our welfare,” said Demokraatit’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after the victory. “We don’t want independence tomorrow — we want to build a strong foundation first.”

Political Shake-Up in Greenland

Nielsen is now set to hold talks with other parties to form a governing coalition. The incumbent IA party, led by Prime Minister Múte Egede, suffered a significant setback, finishing third with 21.4% of the vote. Its coalition partner, the left-wing Siumut party, dropped to fourth place with 14.7% — a sharp decline from their previous two-thirds majority.

Meanwhile, the pro-independence opposition party Naleraq made significant gains, capturing 24.5% of the vote. Naleraq campaigned on a platform of severing ties with Denmark more quickly.

“Our main focus will be the policies we’ve been elected for,” said Anna Wangenheim, a Demokraatit member of Greenland’s parliament. “Now we need to see where the other parties stand.”

Trump’s Annexation Threat and Growing Independence Movement

This year’s election was thrust into the global spotlight after Trump’s suggestion that the US could buy Greenland. During a speech to Congress last week, Trump said, “I think we’re going to get it one way or the other” — raising fears that the US might attempt to seize the territory through economic or military pressure.

The US already maintains a military base in northwest Greenland within the Arctic Circle. Analysts believe Trump’s aggressive stance has inadvertently strengthened Greenland’s bargaining position with Denmark and energized the island’s independence movement.

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when it was granted greater self-governance. In 2009, Greenland gained control over areas such as mineral rights, policing, and the legal system. However, Denmark still controls security, defense, foreign affairs, and monetary policy. Greenland also benefits from Denmark’s membership in the European Union and NATO.

Future of Independence Still Uncertain

All major political parties in Greenland support eventual independence from Denmark, but none have proposed a concrete timeline. While politicians have rejected Trump’s annexation idea, they remain open to US partnerships in areas like rare earth mining, tourism, and economic development.

A January poll commissioned by Danish and Greenlandic newspapers found that 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, with nearly half viewing Trump’s interest as a threat.

“I strongly believe that we will soon live a life based on who we are — our culture, our language — and make decisions for ourselves, not based on Denmark,” said Naleraq candidate Qupanuk Olsen.

Greenland’s new government faces the delicate task of balancing economic growth with the long-term goal of independence — all while navigating growing geopolitical interest from the US, Russia, and China.