I never thought I’d be anxiously tuning in to see the results of political elections in Greenland, and yet here we are in 2025!
Actually, I never found politics all that interesting in general, at least that is until President Trump took that famous escalator ride in 2015 and everything changed from that moment forward.
Flash-forward ten years and I’m now eagerly telling you why the new elections in Greenland just changed everything!
No, they didn’t vote to become our 51st State, it’s not quite that extreme, but it is a huge change.
Let’s start with this Tweet thread to begin:
BREAKING: Major political UPSET in Greenland as center-right party wins election. Anti-American leftists OUT, pro-business reformers IN.
Here’s what you need to know…
pic.twitter.com/hCPj0Zw2px
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) March 12, 2025
2/ Let’s be CLEAR: This is a HUGE shift. While the old guard was busy shouting “NO” at everything American, the new leadership is talking about “business” and “pragmatic cooperation.”
pic.twitter.com/Ih54awLfLM
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) March 12, 2025
4/ IMPORTANT CONTEXT: 4 out of 5 major parties want independence from Denmark. The debate isn’t IF, it’s WHEN. Now a pro-business party is in the driver’s seat.
But Trump’s plan likely INCLUDES independence! Same as our deals with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. pic.twitter.com/s9zvpytq3m
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) March 12, 2025
6/ The TRUTH? This isn’t about “buying” Greenland. It’s about strategic partnership and mutual benefit.
And with anti-American leftists OUT of power, everything is now on the table.
pic.twitter.com/EHlYgfGmB2
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) March 12, 2025
8/ A different poll found almost the OPPOSITE: 57% SUPPORT a deal with the U.S. And the younger you are, the more you support it.
I did a whole video on this. You should watch it. pic.twitter.com/dqFmHxSL2n
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) March 12, 2025
President Trump himself spoke on Greenland today with the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte.
Take a look:
REPORTER: What is your vision for potential annexation of Greenland?
TRUMP: “I think it’ll happen. And I’m just thinking, I didn’t give it much thought… pic.twitter.com/T6LgkaAJ57
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 13, 2025
REPORTER: What is your vision for potential annexation of Greenland?
TRUMP: “I think it’ll happen. And I’m just thinking, I didn’t give it much thought before, but I’m sitting with a man that could be very instrumental. You know, [Sec. Gen.] Mark, we need that for international security, not just security, international.”
“We have a lot of our favorite players, you know, cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful.”
SEC. GEN. MARK RUTTE: “I would leave that outside for me this discussion because, I don’t want to drag NATO in that. But when it comes to the High North and the Arctic, you are totally right. The Chinese are now using these routes. We know that the Russians are using these routes…
“Arctic countries working together on this under US leadership is very important to make sure that that region, that that part of the world stays safe… we have to be there.”
Greenland did indeed vote for independence from Denmark. Jens Frederik Nielsen, the Prime Minister elect, expressed his interest in continuing talks with President Trump especially in regard to the security of Greenland and a continuing relationship with America. Greenland has… pic.twitter.com/tZRPfgwxYT
— Victoria
(@Loveof1776) March 13, 2025
The AP tries to paint this as a loss for Trump, but also admits it’s a clear move away from Denmark:
Greenland’s likely new prime minister on Wednesday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to take control of the island, saying Greenlanders must be allowed to decide their own future as it moves toward independence from Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen’s Demokraatit, a pro-business party that favors a slow path to independence, won a surprise victory in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, outpacing the two left-leaning parties that formed the last government. With most Greenlanders opposing Trump’s overtures, the campaign focused more on issues like healthcare and education than on geopolitics.
But on Wednesday Nielsen was quick to push back against Trump, who last week told a joint session of Congress that the U.S. needed Greenland to protect its own national security interests and he expected to get it “one way or the other.”
“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,” Nielsen, 33, told Britain’s Sky News. “And we want to build our own country by ourselves.”
That didn’t stop Trump from suggesting during a Thursday Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Greenland’s election that it was “very good” for “us” and “the person who did the best is a very good person, as far as we’re concerned.”
Moving toward independence from Denmark
Greenland, a self-governing region of Denmark, has been on a path toward independence since at least 2009, when the government in Copenhagen recognized its right to self-determination under international law. Four of the five main parties in the election supported independence, though they disagreed on when and how to achieve it.The island of 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, has attracted international attention since Trump announced his designs on it soon after returning to the White House in January.
Trump is focused on Greenland because it straddles strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and is home to the U.S.’s Pituffik Space Base, which supports missile warning and space surveillance operations. Greenland also has large deposits of the rare-earth minerals needed to make everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.
Trump said during the meeting with Rutte that “Denmark’s very far away” from Greenland and questioned whether that country still had a right to claim the world’s largest island as part of its kingdom.
Here’s a deeper analysis that I thought was really good:
Election Details
Date and Context: The election took place on March 11, 2025, earlier than the scheduled April 6 deadline, called by Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede in February amid heightened geopolitical tensions. These tensions were largely driven by Trump’s repeated statements since taking office in January 2025 about wanting to acquire Greenland, citing U.S. security interests and the island’s strategic mineral resources.
Voter Turnout: Turnout was notably high at 70.9%, up 5 percentage points from the 2021 election, reflecting the significance Greenlanders placed on this vote. Polling stations, numbering 72 across the island, stayed open late to accommodate the high participation, with approximately 40,500 of Greenland’s 57,000 residents eligible to vote.
Parties and Results:
Demokraatit (Democrats): This center-right, pro-business party won the election with 29.9% of the vote, securing 10 of the 31 seats in the Inatsisartut (Greenland’s parliament). This was a significant increase from their 9.1% in 2021, tripling their parliamentary presence. Led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the party advocates a gradual approach to independence from Denmark, prioritizing economic stability and development.
Naleraq: This centrist party, favoring rapid independence and closer ties with the U.S., came in second with 24.5% of the vote, doubling its 2021 share and gaining seats. Its prominence grew with the defection of popular politician Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam from a ruling party.
Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA): The left-wing ruling party, led by outgoing Prime Minister Múte Egede, took third place with a reduced share, losing four of its 11 seats. It supports independence but with a cautious timeline.
Siumut: The center-left coalition partner of IA, led by Erik Jensen, finished fourth, losing six of its 10 seats. Like IA, it favors a slow path to independence.
Other Parties: Smaller parties like Atassut (pro-Denmark ties) also participated but did not significantly alter the top outcomes.
Key Issues:
Independence from Denmark: A central theme, with most parties supporting it but differing on pace. A January 2025 poll showed 84% of Greenlanders favor independence, though 45% only if living standards are maintained.
Trump’s Interest: Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, including a February 2025 speech to Congress claiming the U.S. would “get” Greenland “one way or the other,” dominated the campaign. This followed his 2019 proposal to buy the island, renewed in 2025 with promises of investment.
Economic Development: Demokraatit emphasized business growth and mining to bolster Greenland’s economy, currently reliant on Danish subsidies (nearly $1 billion annually) and fishing.
Outcome: No party secured an absolute majority, so Demokraatit must form a coalition, likely with Naleraq, IA, or Siumut. Nielsen has expressed intent to negotiate broadly for unity, especially given external pressures from the U.S.
Greenland’s Status: A former Danish colony, Greenland has been a semi-autonomous territory since 1953, with greater autonomy granted in 1979 and the right to hold an independence referendum since 2009. Denmark retains control over foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy.
Analysis: Implications for Trump Acquiring Greenland
Trump’s interest in Greenland stems from its strategic Arctic location (home to the U.S. Pituffik Space Base), rare earth mineral deposits, and potential shipping routes as ice melts. His 2025 rhetoric oscillated between threats of force and promises of economic investment, but the election results suggest significant hurdles to his ambitions. Here’s what they likely mean:
Rejection of U.S. Annexation:
The victory of Demokraatit, despite its pro-business stance, does not signal openness to U.S. takeover. Nielsen explicitly called Trump’s interest “a threat to our political independence,” aligning with the 85% of Greenlanders who, per a January 2025 poll, oppose becoming part of the U.S. Even Naleraq, which favors U.S. ties, seeks cooperation (e.g., a free association agreement), not annexation.
The high voter turnout and unified rejection of Trump’s overtures by party leaders during debates (e.g., on KNR) indicate a strong assertion of self-determination. Prime Minister Egede’s pre-election statement, “Greenland is ours,” was echoed across the political spectrum.
Gradual Independence Over Quick Deals:
Demokraatit’s win reflects a preference for a slow, stable path to independence, focusing on internal development rather than rapid geopolitical shifts. This contrasts with Naleraq’s push for a snap referendum, which, while popular, didn’t win out. A cautious approach reduces the likelihood of Greenland seeking immediate external patrons like the U.S. to replace Denmark’s support.
Analysts like Ulrik Pram Gad and Mark Nutall suggest the results show Greenlanders are “pushed away” from U.S. engagement due to Trump’s aggressive stance, favoring economic foundations over hasty alliances.
Economic Leverage, Not Sovereignty:
While Trump sees Greenland’s minerals and location as vital, Demokraatit’s platform suggests openness to U.S. commercial dialogue (e.g., mining deals) but not sovereignty transfers. Greenland’s parliament banned foreign political donations in February 2025 to curb U.S. influence, reinforcing this stance.
The election shifts focus to business development, which could benefit U.S. interests indirectly if mining partnerships emerge, but Trump’s annexation goal remains far-fetched without Greenlandic consent, which is unlikely given current sentiment.
Strengthened Ties with Denmark:
Trump’s threats have paradoxically bolstered Greenland’s leverage with Denmark, which is now more willing to improve relations and appease Nuuk. A Demokraatit-led government may renegotiate terms within the Danish Realm rather than pivot to the U.S., as Denmark’s $1 billion annual subsidy remains a lifeline.
Geopolitical Signal:
The outcome sends a message to Trump that Greenlanders prioritize autonomy over absorption into any superpower, including the U.S. With Russia and China also eyeing the Arctic, Greenland’s cautious stance suggests it will seek to balance influences rather than align fully with one power.
Conclusion
The March 11, 2025, Greenland election, won by the Demokraatit party, signals a rejection of Trump’s acquisition ambitions in favor of a deliberate march toward independence from Denmark. While economic cooperation with the U.S. remains possible, annexation—by force or persuasion—faces stiff resistance. Trump’s strategy may have misfired, galvanizing Greenlandic unity and skepticism toward American overtures, likely keeping Greenland out of his grasp for the foreseeable future. The next steps hinge on coalition talks, but the trajectory points to self-reliance, not subordination.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.
