Greenland heads to urns as a territory of Trump eyes

The residents of Greenland go to the ballot boxes on Tuesday with a vote that in previous years it has attracted a little external attention – but which may be mainly for the future of the Arctic territory.

US President Donald Trump for the acquisition of Greenland has categorically put him in the spotlight and nourishes the long -standing debate on the future connections of the island with Copenhagen.

“There has never been such a spotlight in Greenland,” says Nauga Biyko, a Danish-green-green political expert on the Arctic.

Greenland is controlled by Denmark – about 3,000 km (1860 miles) – for about 300 years. He regulates his own interior, but decisions are made in Copenhagen on foreign and defense policy.

Now five of the six ballot parties are favorable to Greenland's independence from Denmark, different only to how quickly this should happen.

The independence debate is “placed on Steroids by Trump,” says Masiana Egede, editor of Greenland, Sermitsiaq.

The strategic location of the island and unused mineral resources caught the eye of the US president. He first sailed the idea of ​​buying Greenland back during his first term in 2019.

After taking office again in January, he repeated his intention to acquire the territory. The leaders of Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly canceled his demands.

However, turning to the US Congress last week, Trump doubled. “We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we will receive it,” he said, causing applause and laughter from a number of politicians, including Vice-President JD Vance.

In Nuk, his words hit a nerve with politicians who quickly condemned them. “We deserve to be treated with respect and I do not think the US president has done this lately since he took office,” said Prime Minister Mute Eggede.

However, the US interest has called on Greenland to break away from Denmark, with much of the debate focusing on when – not if – the independence process has to begin.

The purpose of Greenland's independence is not new, according to Nauga Bianco and has been in the creation for decades.

A series of revelations about the past abuse of people from the Danes in the Danes have hurt Greenland's public opinion about Denmark. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Egede stated that the territory should be free from the “shackles of colonialism”.

But this is the first time the topic has taken the central place in elections.

Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), the Prime Minister's party Mute Eggede, favors the gradual steps towards autonomy. “Citizens need to feel safe,” he told local media.

Arctic expert Martin Braum says that Egede is dealing with Trump's challenge and strong words against Denmark for past colonial misconduct “will give him many votes.”

The smaller rivals can also acquire land and potentially shake alliances.

The Naleraq opposition party wants to immediately start the production of a divorce from Copenhagen and to have closer defense deals with Washington.

Specifying the departure of the EU and Brexit to Greenland, party leader Pele Broerg said Greenland could be “outside the Danish Kingdom in three years.”

Naleraq presents the largest number of candidates and gained speed by riding the wave of discontent with Denmark.

“Naleraq will also be a greater factor in parliament,” predicts G -B Breum, who says the party candidates have performed well on television and social media.

However, the right -wing of democratiite in centers believes it is too early to insist on independence.

“The economy will have to be much stronger than it is today,” Party candidate Justus Hansen told Reuters.

Greenland's economy is run by fishing and government spending rely on annual subsidies from Denmark.

Talking about Trump and Independence overshadow other key questions about voters, says newspaper editor Masana Egede.

“This is choices that we need to talk about health care, care for the elderly and social problems. Almost everything is about independence.”

According to recent studies, nearly 80% of Greenland is directed to future statehood.

About 44,000 people have the right to vote, and given the low number and few polls, the results are difficult to predict.

Although the majority of Greenland favors independence, A study has been shown This half would be less enthusiastic about independence if it meant a lower standard of living.

One poll found that 85% of the Grenlars do not want to become part of the United States and almost half see Trump's interest as a threat.

A fear among some Greenland, says Masana Egede, is how long the Arctic island can remain independent and whether it will break away from Denmark, only to have another country that stands on our shores and start conquering. “

Experts claim that this concern can direct the votes to keep the status quo.

Although Greenland's right to self -determination has been laid down in the 2009 Self -Government Act, there are several steps before the territory breaks away from Denmark, including a referendum.

This means that getting full independence can take “about 10 to 15 years,” says Kaj Cleist, veteran Greenland politician and a civil servant who prepared the Self -Government Act.

“There is a lot of preparation and negotiations with the Danish government before you can do it in reality,” he adds.

Whatever the result of the election, experts do not believe that Greenland can become independent before Trump's second term ends in 2028.

The results are expected in the early hours of Wednesday.