Greenland calls March 11 elections as Arctic island fields US interest
Greenland’s prime minister announced on Tuesday that the semi-autonomous Danish territory will hold a general election on March 11 amid interest by U.S. President Donald Trump in acquiring the Arctic island, Reuters reports.
The top issues in the election campaign are expected to be Greenland’s independence aspirations and relations with Denmark and the United States as well as the fragile economy which depends on fishing and Danish grants.
Reviving an idea he floated during his first term in 2019, Trump last month expressed a desire to “get” the strategically significant island, leaving open the possibility of using military or economic force to achieve this.
Greenland, which has vast untapped mineral resources, has said it is open for business but does not wish to be part of the United States.
In response to Trump’s interest and fears of foreign intervention, legislators on Tuesday moved to ban foreign and anonymous political party donations.
U.S. interest also prompted lawmakers to tighten regulations on foreign real estate and property investments this week.
“We are in the midst of a serious time. A time that we have never experienced in our country. This is not the time for internal division,” Prime Minister Mute Egede said in a social media post that did not mention Trump.
A movement towards full independence from former colonial ruler Denmark has gathered momentum in recent years.
