Greenland election result keeps Trump at arm's length

The surprise victory of the center-right Demokraatit, or Democrat, party in Greenland's general election has paused talk of independence in the Arctic island coveted by United States President Donald Trump.

The former opposition party that won Tuesday's poll with around 30 percent of the vote is in favor of a gradual approach to independence from Denmark, the semi-autonomous island's former colonial power.

The fact that the Democrat party is not in a hurry to achieve full independence from Denmark, in contrast to several other parties that participated in the election, means the mineral-rich territory will continue to enjoy military protection from Denmark, which will likely make it less vulnerable to a hostile take-over.

The election came after Trump said during his address to the US Congress last week: "We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we're gonna get it."

Jens Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the Democrat party, said after his victory that he will work with the other five parties that participated, to forge a united front against US hegemony.

"Greenland needs us to stand together in a time of great interest from outside," he said. "There is a need for unity, so we will enter into negotiations with everyone."

He said his party "didn't expect the election to have this outcome" but added "we're very happy".

The Democrat party's share of the vote was 20 percent up on its share in the 2021 election.

The Naleraq party, which was also in opposition during the last parliament, came second. It favors aggressively seeking full independence from Denmark and is open to talking to the US about allowing exploitation of its mineral reserves.

It secured around a quarter of the vote.

Pele Broberg, the Naleraq party's leader, said: "We will work with the people of the country to honor the power they have given us. Without exception, thank you all for the day."

The two parties that had ruled the island in a coalition government, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut, finished in third and fourth place, suggesting the 44,000 Greenlanders eligible to vote among its 57,000 residents were in the mood for change.

The 31 lawmakers elected to the Greeland's parliament, or Inatsisartut, this week have full control over local decision-making for the island country, but Denmark still controls its foreign policy and has echoed local sentiment that the island is not for sale.

Denmark's minister of defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, told The Guardian newspaper the new government and the people of Greenland will now decide its long-term future.

"It is not the case that you can just take a part of the Commonwealth (of Denmark), but the future of Greenland is based on what the Greenlandic population and government want," he said.