Greenland aims to cut foreign influence as election nears

Greenland plans to ban political donations from foreign powers and individuals in a bid to minimize interference from United States President Donald Trump, who has made no secret of his desire to take over the mineral-rich Arctic island.

The autonomous territory that is home to 57,000 people and part of the Kingdom of Denmark hosts US military facilities because Denmark is part of NATO and Trump, who has said taking control of Greenland is vital to US national security, has not ruled out using military or economic power to get his way.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeated Trump's argument on The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, saying controlling Greenland was in "the national interest "and was in no way a joke.

And JD Vance, the US vice-president, told Fox News this week: "It's really important to our national security. There are sea lanes there that the Chinese use, that the Russians use, that frankly, Denmark, which controls Greenland, it's not doing its job and it's not being a good ally."

Greenland's lawmakers pushed back by unveiling a bill on Tuesday that outlaws political contributions from overseas benefactors, in order to "safeguard the political integrity of Greenland".

A translation of the legislation, made by Agence France-Presse, quoted it as saying action was needed "in light of the geopolitical interests in Greenland and the current situation ... where representatives of an allied superpower have expressed their interest in taking over and controlling Greenland".

The legislation also outlaws political contributions from "anonymous donors".

The move comes as Greenland prepares to hold a general election, which must take place before April 6.Aaja Chemnitz, a member of Denmark's parliament representing Greenland, told AFP the legislation was sorely needed.

"There will be different people, different groups that will try to affect the whole election in Greenland," she said.

Denmark has repeatedly said Greenland is not for sale and that its future can only be decided by Greenlanders.

And Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said her nation will protect the island, if necessary, alongside its European Union allies.

She told reporters ahead of recent EU defense talks: "I will never support the idea of fighting allies. But of course, if the US puts tough terms on Europe, we need a collective and robust response."

Denmark said last month it will spend an additional $2 billion on bolstering its military in the region.

Ahead of an informal EU leaders meeting in Brussels, Belgium on Monday Frederiksen said she understands US concern that the Arctic region's security would be under threat, if global powers expand into the region and the US does not.

"If this is about securing our part of the world, we can find a way forward," she added.