Description: Greenland is facing a crucial election on Tuesday amid constant threats from US President Donald Trump to acquire the island as an absolute necessity for US strategic interests. Greenland mainly depends on Denmark and the EU which subsidize their Scandinavian – style welfare system but also sits on an untapped mineral, oil and gas reserves. Greenland’s parliament consists of 31 members of which 16 are needed for a majority in the chamber with six political parties in the race. Currently Greenland is led by the left – wing Inuit Ataqatigiit in coalition with the social democratic Siumut party which control 12 and 10 seats respectively. The majority Greenlanders although expressed aspirations for independence are still concerned about the island’s economic stability as it mostly depends on Denmark, which also controls the island’s foreign and defense policies. Greenland has also recently tightened foreign interference laws banning foreign and anonymous political donations.
Impact: Between the US hedging their bets on acquiring the island and its dependence on Denmark and in some portion on the EU, Greenland is plunged into a historic election which would determine the island’s future geopolitical posturing. The unyielding strategic value and untapped natural resources make Greenland one of the most attractive strategic territories in the Arctic which recently has re-emerged on the global geopolitical map. Depending on the outcome of the election Greenland would also face an independence referendum in April which would determine the island’s position in the global power dynamics. Its historic dependency on Denmark is unlikely to be forfeited in the current uncertain political and security turmoil, however, in case the future government decides to exploit the islands natural resources, the self – governing dependence could be significantly reduced. The independence referendum would paint a clearer picture on the island’s upcoming positioning in the global power dynamics.