Danish elections as a test/ Could Greenland become the new US state?

2026-03-02 13:31:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Greenland's vote in Denmark's parliamentary elections on March 24 is expected to serve as a key barometer of the islanders' stance on independence, at a time when debates about the future of relations with Copenhagen have intensified significantly.

The ruling coalition in Greenland, led by the Democrats, supports a gradual and pragmatic path towards independence, considering Denmark an important partner in this process.

On the other hand, the opposition party Naleraq calls for a faster separation from Denmark, deepening political divisions on the island.

Analysts say these divisions could create spaces for outside actors to exploit. Researcher Ulrik Pram Gad from the Danish Institute for International Studies said the US side has begun to identify areas where there are real disagreements between Greenland and Denmark. However, he stressed that recent pressure from the US has also led to closer cooperation between Nuuk and Copenhagen.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the election at a time when domestic support for her firm stance against US pressure on Greenland has grown significantly. Her stance has received broad support across the Danish political spectrum.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reignited debates over the island, after expressing interest in taking control of it - an idea that has sparked strong reactions in both Denmark and Greenland.

A complicated story

Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it formally became part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The independence movement, which began in the 1970s, has gained ground in recent years, while Greenland's parliamentary elections in March 2025 exposed deeper political divisions.

When the Danish elections were announced on February 26, 2026, Naleraq leader Pele Broberg accused other parties of bowing to Denmark's wishes and jeopardizing Greenland's right to independence.

According to Professor Rasmus Leander Nielsen from the University of Greenland, as the only opposition party, Naleraq could attract disaffected voters and make the outcome in Greenland more unpredictable than in previous Danish elections.

The legacy of tensions

Relations between Greenland and Denmark have been strained by several historical issues. In 2025, Denmark publicly apologized for involuntary birth control practices against Greenlandic women and girls between 1966 and 1991. The case, revealed in 2022, has prompted calls for further investigation and the publication of a report examining whether the practices constituted genocide.

The Siumut party has called for the experts' report to be published before the March 24 vote, arguing that citizens should be informed before casting their votes.

Despite the tensions, many Greenlanders have praised Frederiksen's effort to secure support from European allies in the face of Trump's expressed interest in the island.

According to analysts, the March 24 vote will show whether external pressure has strengthened feelings of independence or fostered greater rapprochement with Denmark./ CNA