The winners of Greenland’s elections repeated the islanders’ widespread criticism of Donald Trump after claiming victory Wednesday.
“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. And we want to build our own country by ourselves,” Jens-Friederik Nielsen, leader of the victorious Demokraatit party, told Sky News.
While Greenland is officially part of Denmark, the island has some autonomy, and total independence is a popular idea with its 56,000 residents. Despite the area’s small population, Tuesday’s elections were closely watched around the world because of Trump’s aggressive claims that the U.S. will take over Greenland.
The winning Demokraatits are considered a center-right party and favor a slow-moving approach to separation from Denmark. The Demokraatits claimed an island-leading 30% of the vote, while the more aggressively pro-independence Naleraq party finished second with 24%.
Both parties were previously small players in Greenland’s government. The previous controlling parties finished third and fourth in Tuesday’s elections.
Trump did not publicly respond to the results. Addressing Congress last week, he said the U.S. was “going to get [Greenland]. One way or the other, we’re going to get it.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a diplomatic statement calling Tuesday’s voting “a joyful day and a celebration of democracy.” Denmark has previously said it will not forcefully oppose Greenland’s independence.
Greenland and its residents have largely been ignored on the global stage, but the world’s largest island could become a key player in international trade as rising temperatures open arctic sea routes.
Additionally, Greenland is strategically located for any conflict between the U.S., Europe and Russia. The U.S. has maintained a military base on the island since 1951.
With News Wire Services
