Independence is the main election issue, Greenland residents vote on Tuesday

Greenland residents voted on Tuesday in an election pledged to control international concerns of mineral-rich islands, which was pledged to control the mineral-rich islands, to launch debates on its independence.

Since taking office in January, Trump has vowed to make Denmark’s Greenland (Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory) a part of the United States, saying it is crucial to U.S. security interests.

With a population of only 57,000, this massive island has been trapped in a geopolitical race in the Arctic, where melting ice sheets make its resources easier to obtain and new transport routes are opened. Both Russia and China have stepped up military activities in the region.

Greenland is a former Danish colony and has been a territory since 1953. When the first parliament was established in 1979, it gained some autonomy, but Copenhagen still controlled foreign affairs, defense and monetary policy and provided us with less than $1 billion in the economy.

In 2009, it won the right to declare complete independence through a referendum, although without the circumstances in which living standards would decline without the economic support of Denmark.

Voting for parliamentary elections began Tuesday morning at 72 polling stations on the Arctic Island, where 40,500 people were eligible to vote. Unofficial election results should be obtained after polls were closed at 10 p.m. GMT on Tuesday, but they won’t go through weeks of certification as voting documents take boats, planes and helicopters into the capital from remote settlements.

“I’m very excited. I hope people can vote in common sense and greed,” Liv Aurora, a candidate who ruled the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, said at the polling station in the capital Nuuk.

“I hope to make a difference and make Greenland strong and independent.”

Independent question “wearing steroids”

Trump’s voice interest stirs the status quo, coupled with the pride of Indigenous peoples in Greenland’s Inuit culture – putting the independence front and center into the election.

“The independence issue was raised by Trump,” said Masaana Egede, editor of local newspaper Sermitsiaq. “This covers the daily issues.”

In the final debate on Greenland broadcaster KNR late Monday, leaders of five parties currently in parliament unanimously stated that they did not trust Trump.

“He is trying to influence us. I can understand whether citizens feel unsafe,” said Erik Jensen, leader of Siumut, a joint government partner.

No polling is expected to be conducted or withdrawn from the poll. A January poll showed that most residents in Greenland support independence but had some differences in timing.

Julie Rademacher, a Greenland government adviser and former adviser, said the election campaign focused on anger and frustration against the historical misconduct of former colonial rulers Denmark.

“But I think the fear of the American imperialist approach has become more angered recently than Denmark,” Radmach said.

Reuters spoke with more than a dozen Greenlanders in Nuuk, all of whom expressed favorability for independence – although many expressed concerns that the rapid transition would harm the economy and eliminate Nordic welfare services such as universal health care and free education.

“We don’t want to be part of the United States: health care and Trump,” said Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee and Nuuk resident. He added that the election was particularly important.

The island has a large number of natural resources, including key minerals such as rare earths used in the high-tech industry, from electric vehicles to missile systems.

However, due to environmental issues, harsh weather and China’s almost complete control of the industry, Greenland’s extraction is slow, making it difficult for companies elsewhere to make profits or buyers safely.

Trump softens his position

Trump’s initial refusal to exclude military forces shocked many Greenlanders, although he later softened his stance and said he would respect the will of the local people and be “prepared to invest billions” if they joined the United States

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede stressed that the island would not be sold and advocated a widespread coalition government to resist external pressure. In an interview aired by Danish broadcaster DR on Monday, he refuted Trump’s proposal as disrespectful and expressed his willingness to work with other countries.

The Danish Prime Minister said Greenland is not for sale, but made it clear that the locals decide the future.

All six major political parties support independence, but differ in how and when.

The supportive Naleraq Party, the main opposition force, gained momentum before the election and was freshly accused of American interests and historic exploitation of Greenland’s mineral wealth by Denmark.

“This is our independent election,” said Naleraq candidate Qupanuk Olsen.

The party believes that the U.S. attention strengthens Greenland’s position in separatist negotiations with Denmark, with the aim of voting with Copenhagen before the next election in four years.

According to local newspaper editor Egede, the party could add five seats at the moment, but was unlikely to win a majority in parliament.