Greenland's election marks a turning point as leaders reject U.S. bid for control

In a striking outcome that has reshaped Greenland’s political landscape, the center-right Demokraatit party secured an unexpected victory in the nation’s parliamentary elections. This triumph comes amid rising international attention on the Arctic island, spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed efforts to assert control over Greenland. However, the election results signal a firm rejection of external influence, as the incoming government prioritizes domestic issues and a measured path to independence from Denmark.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of Demokraatit and Greenland’s likely new prime minister, wasted no time in making the party’s stance clear. In response to Trump’s assertion that the U.S. needed Greenland for strategic security reasons, Nielsen declared: “We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our own independence in the future.”

This election marks a critical moment in Greenland’s ongoing movement toward full autonomy. The island, a self-governing territory of Denmark, has had the right to self-determination since 2009. Although most political parties advocate for independence, they differ in their approaches and timelines. While Demokraatit supports a gradual transition, others, like the left-wing Naleraq party, push for a more immediate break from Denmark.

Despite international headlines fixating on Trump’s ambitions for Greenland, the election was primarily fought on domestic issues. Voters were more concerned with healthcare, housing, education, and economic diversification than geopolitical maneuvering. Nielsen’s Demokraatit party capitalized on these concerns, campaigning for better living conditions and economic growth while advocating for a cautious approach to independence.

The party’s strategy paid off, with Demokraatit winning 29.9% of the vote—an astonishing leap from the 9.1% they secured in the previous election. In contrast, Naleraq came in second with 24.5%, followed by the Inuit Ataqatigiit party at 21.4%.

Greenland’s strategic importance cannot be overstated. With its location along critical North Atlantic shipping routes and its abundance of rare-earth minerals essential for modern technology, the island has become a geopolitical hotspot. The U.S. already operates the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance, further increasing American interest in the region.

However, Greenlanders have made it clear that they intend to chart their own course. The election results indicate a rejection of Trump’s aggressive stance and a preference for pragmatic governance that prioritizes the well-being of Greenland’s 56,000 residents—most of whom are of Indigenous Inuit descent.

With no single party holding a majority, the next step for Greenland’s parliament is coalition negotiations. Demokraatit must now decide whether to align with pro-independence parties like Naleraq or seek a more moderate coalition that balances self-rule aspirations with economic stability.

Carina Ren, head of the Arctic program at Aalborg University in Denmark, noted that Greenlanders successfully steered the election conversation away from external drama. “The voters have been able to drag down all the alarmist talk from the outside and focus on their everyday lives—where they’re going, how they’ll develop their society from within.”

The world will be watching closely as Greenland’s new government takes shape. While the island’s path to independence remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Greenlanders are determined to make that decision on their own terms.