The largest island in the world is part of the state of Denmark, but enjoys broad autonomy. Only foreign policy, security and finances are still shared with Denmark, but even then with specificities.
Greenland decided back in 1985 that it did not want to be a member of the European Economic Community, or the European Union, like Denmark.
Previously, hardly anyone in the world was interested in the outcomes of regional elections where about sixty thousand Greenlanders elect 31 members of Inatsisartut, the local parliament.
But, ahead of the new elections on Tuesday (March 11), interest is huge, not least because of US President Donald Trump's territorial claims to "acquire" Greenland as a territory of the United States.
Militarily and strategically, Greenland has long been nothing more than an icy wasteland near the North Pole.
Its territory is the shortest distance between the USA and present-day Russia, so back in the 1950s, Denmark, as a member of NATO, allowed the USA to establish the Thule air base in northwest Greenland – today it is called Pitufik Space Base and is used for electronic reconnaissance and early detection of possible Soviet missiles aimed at the United States.
From oil to uranium
Greenland has also become interesting because of its mineral wealth. It is believed to contain oil and natural gas, primarily in the south, but also metals such as gold, uranium, and zinc.
And in his first term, Trump offered Denmark to "buy" Greenland - which Copenhagen flatly refused.
Not unlike the Russian president, Trump has no particular respect for national borders. It's not just about "returning" jurisdiction over the Panama Canal or his ideas about what to do with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but also claims to Canada - and especially Greenland.
Even before he returned to the White House, Trump sent his son Donald Jr. on his plane to Greenland on an alleged "tourist trip."
In early March, Trump told the US Congress that he "supports their right to determine their own future," but soon after added: "I think we're going to get Greenland. One way or another, we're going to get it."
The citizens of Greenland have a different opinion. Even after the provocative "outing" by the son of the US president, a public opinion poll was published, according to which only six percent of Greenlanders could imagine annexing the US, while 85 percent were against.
A much more pronounced opinion is that Greenland – more precisely, Kalaallit Nunaat, because the name "Green Land" was given to the island by foreigners, the Vikings – should become a fully sovereign state.
Foreign influencers don't have much of a chance
But in the quest for independence, the country's mineral wealth is a key factor. Currently, about a third of Greenland's budget is filled with money from Denmark, because Greenland is, by modern standards, extremely underdeveloped.
There are almost no roads, because they cannot be built across the ice, and much of Greenland cannot even be reached by ship during the long winter months.
Many young residents see no prospects, so if not leaving, then alcohol – and lately, narcotics – seems to be the only way out and a huge problem.
The mineral wealth is a great chance to give young people hope for a better future, but Greenland wants to decide for itself who will receive the concessions: American companies, the Russians or China, which also hopes to establish a foothold there.
As the Danish intelligence service PET warns, foreign intelligence services are apparently active ahead of the Greenlandic elections. As is typical of Russian services, “numerous cases of suspicious bank accounts on the Internet” have been noted, which are linked to individuals “posing as Danish and Greenlandic politicians and contributing to the polarization of public opinion.”
The Americans are not idle either. According to available information, influencers close to Trump have been handing out hundred-dollar bills in the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, and Greenlandic MP Kuno Fenker has met in Washington with Trump's Republicans who advocate the annexation of Greenland.
The elections will pass, but the danger will not.
Johan Farkas, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, does not believe that such actions, especially anonymous ones via social media, have a significant impact:
"Greenland is a very small community with close ties to each other. In my opinion, they are not easy to influence through fake accounts or similar methods," says Farkas.
However, Greenlandic politicians are concerned about the possibility of foreign influence, much like Elon Musk's tireless support for extremist populists in European countries.
That is why, in early February, the Greenlandic parliament passed a law completely banning foreign or anonymous financial donations to political parties, with the exception of those from Denmark.
Professor Farkas believes this is the right answer and warns that "the danger is not over yet", but also that "a month ago he was more worried than he is today".
Because, after Trump's statements, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Mutte Egede, also took to social media with a clear message: "We do not want to be Americans or Danes, we are Kalaalis. The Americans and their leader must understand this."
Egede is the leader of the Inuit Community party, which, together with the social democratic party Progress, has a convincing majority in the regional parliament.
But while the election is unlikely to bring about any major changes in the political balance of power in Greenland, Professor Farkas warns: “It is important to continue to monitor the situation closely and to understand that this threat will not simply disappear after the election. As long as the US has a goal of taking over Greenland, there is a risk of various influence campaigns.”
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