Greenland is aimed at surveys as Trump’s eyes

Greenland residents are aimed at surveys on Tuesday in a vote that in previous years has called little external attention, but that can be fundamental for the future of the Arctic territory.

The repeated interest of the president of the United States in the acquisition of Greenland has firmly put it in the center of attention and fed the long data debate about the future ties of the island with Copenhagen.

“There has never been a focus of attention in Greenland,” says Nauja Bianco, an expert in Danish-Grenoenland politics in the Arctic.

Greenland has been controlled by Denmark, almost 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away, for about 300 years. He records his own national matters, but decisions on foreign and defense policy are taken in Copenhagen.

Now, five out of six parties on the electoral ballot favor the independence of Greenland of Denmark, deferring only in how fast that should happen.

The debate on independence has been “put in steroids by Trump,” says Masana Egede, editor of the Groenland newspaper Sermitsiaq.

The strategic location of the island and non -exploited mineral resources have drawn the attention of the president of the United States. First, the idea of ​​buying Greenland during his first term in 2019 floated.

Since he assumed the position in January, he has reiterated his intention to acquire the territory. Greenland and Denmark leaders have repeatedly rejected their demands.

Going to the United States Congress last week, however, Trump again doubled. “We need Greenland for national security. In one way or another we will get it,” he said, causing applause and laughter of several politicians, including vice president JD Vance.

In Nuuk, his words hit a nerve with politicians who were quickly condemned. “We deserve to be treated with respect and I do not believe that the US president has done it lately since he assumed the position,” said Prime Minister Mute Egede.

Even so, the interest of the United States has fueled the calls to Greenland that separate from Denmark, with much of the debate focused on when, no if, the independence process should begin.

The objective of independence of Greenland is not new, says Nauja Bianco, and has been decades in process.

A series of revelations about the past abuse of Inuit people by the Danish have harmed Greenland’s public opinion over Denmark. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Egede said that the territory should be released from “the colonialism’s shackles.”

But it is the first time that the subject has taken the center of the stage in an election.

Inuit Ataqatigiit (AI), Prime Minister’s party Mute Egede favors gradual steps towards autonomy. “Citizens must feel safe,” he told local media.

The Arctic expert, Martin Breum, says that Egede’s handling of Trump’s challenge and the strong words against Denmark about past colonial irregularities “will give him many votes.”

The smallest rivals could also gain land and potentially shake alliances.

The Naleraq opposition party wants to immediately start the Copenhagen divorce procedures and have narrower defense treatment with Washington.

Pointing out the game and Brexit of the EU of Greenland, the leader of the Pelle Boberg party has said that Greenland could be “outside the Danish kingdom in three years.”

Naleraq is presenting the greatest number of candidates and has won impulse to set up the wave of discontent with Denmark.

“Naleraq will also be a bigger factor in Parliament,” predicts Breum, who says that party candidates have worked well on television and social networks.

However, the Demokraatit party of Center-Right believes that it is too early to boost independence.

“The economy will have to be much stronger than it is today,” said the candidate for the Justus Hansen party to Reuters.

Greenland’s economy is driven by fishing, and government spending is based on annual Denmark subsidies.

Talking about Trump and Independence has eclipsed other key issues for voters, says the EGEANA newspaper editor.

“It is a choice in which we should talk about medical care, care of the elderly and social problems. Almost everything is independence.”

According to recent surveys, almost 80% of Greenlands move towards future status.

Around 44,000 people are eligible to vote, and given the low numbers and few surveys, the results are difficult to forecast.

Although most Greenlands favor independence, A survey has demonstrated That half would be less excited about independence if that meant a lower standard of living.

A survey found that 85% of Greenlands do not want to be part of the United States, and almost half sees Trump’s interest as a threat.

A fear among some of the grindla, says Masaana Egede, is how long the Arctic island could remain independent and if it would break from Denmark only to have another country “standing on our coasts and start assuming control.”

Experts say it is this concern that could direct the votes to keep the status quo.

Although the right to self-determination of Greenland is enshrined in the Law by the 2009 Auto-Regla Law, there are several steps to follow before the territory can be separated from Denmark, including the referendum.

This means that obtaining total independence could take “about 10 to 15 years,” says Kaj Kleist, a political veteran and Greenland official who prepared the act of self-region.

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

Whatever the result of the choice, experts do not believe that Greenland can be independent before Trump’s second mandate has ended in 2028.

The results are expected in the early hours of Wednesday.