Amidst the US's 'watchful eye', Greenland holds parliamentary elections. What is the winning side's view on Mr. Trump's intentions?

Greenland's pro-business opposition party Demokraatit (Democracy) won parliamentary elections on March 11, defeating the incumbent left-wing coalition.

Greenland holds parliamentary elections on March 11. (Source: Reuters)

Reuters news agency reported that in the vote, the Demokraatit party won 29.9% of the votes, a sharp increase from 9.1% in 2021, surpassing the opposition Naleraq party with 24.5% of the votes.

Meanwhile, the ruling Inuit party Ataqatigiit and its partner Siumut won a combined 36% of the vote, down from 66.1% in 2021.

"People want change... We want more businesses to finance our welfare. We don't want independence tomorrow, we want a good foundation," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party and former minister of industry and minerals.

Mr Nielsen now has a chance to form a coalition government through negotiations with other parties.

Greenland is a self-governing island of Denmark located on strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic. The island has large reserves of rare earth minerals needed to produce everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.

All of Greenland’s dominant parties agree on the desire for independence from Denmark. In almost every election in recent years, the self-governing island’s politicians have promised to take steps toward autonomy – but none have given a specific timeline.

While the Demokraatit, Inuit Ataqatigiit and partner Siumut parties advocate a gradual approach to independence, the Naleraq party is the most strongly pro-independence.

"Whether Demokraatit chooses to form a coalition government, and if so, which party it forms a coalition with, will determine the new administration's approach to independence," Dwayne Menezes, executive director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, told the AP news agency.

The vast island, with a population of just 57,000, has been caught in the geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic, as melting ice makes access to resources easier and opens up new shipping routes. US President Donald Trump spoke candidly about his desire to control Greenland during a joint session of Congress last week, saying Washington would get it “one way or another”.

Despite their differing views on the timing of independence from Denmark, all parties in Greenland have shown little interest in annexing the United States. In the final debate on Greenland’s state radio station KNR on the evening of March 10, the leaders of the current parliamentary factions said in unison that they do not trust Mr. Trump.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/giua-su-nhom-ngo-tu-my-greenland-tien-hanh-bau-cu-quoc-hoi-quan-dem-cua-phe-thang-ve-y-do-cua-ong-trump-ra-sao-307273.html