# Greenland votes for change but coalition talks will govern how it reacts to Trump

## Analysis

The tone of relations with the US may depend on whether second-placed Naleraq ends up inside the government.

It was an election that was fought on the global stage with sporadic commentary from Donald Trump. But in the end, it was domestic issues that drove Greenlanders to the polls to vote overwhelmingly for change.

Ever since his son, Donald Trump Jr, touched down in a Trump-branded plane at Nuuk’s new airport in January, the US president has made no secret of his renewed desire to gain control of the Arctic island, refusing to rule out economic or military force to do so.

But Greenland’s election was fought and won on domestic issues such as business, fisheries, pensions, people’s livelihoods and healthcare.

Naleraq, the most US- and Trump-friendly party, did well, coming second overall. But it was the centre-right Democrats, led by Jens Frederik Nielsen, who replaced former prime minister Múte B Egede’s Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) as the party with the most seats – and thus now have the opportunity to form a coalition government.

Naleraq advocates collaboration with the US in the pursuit of rapid independence from Denmark (which ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953 and still controls its foreign and security policy).

Nielsen favours a much slower transition, saying Greenland “must have a calm course”, and “must first build the foundation” for success as an independent country.


The Naleraq leader, Pele Broberg (left), and the Democrat leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, before a televised debate to discuss the election result.
Photograph: Mads Claus Rasmussen/EPA

What direction the new government takes on issues that could have international ramifications will depend on how the coalition is formed. Talks could go on for weeks, and while Nielsen has indicated he is open to talks with Naleraq, he has not ruled out working with other parties.

“Greenland needs us to stand together,” Nielsen told the territory’s public broadcaster, KNR. “That will be the starting point for our negotiations. Many big things are happening on a global scale, and it is important that we have one voice and one common vote.”

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