In a bold political move, Greenlandic lawmakers reached an agreement on Thursday to establish a new governing coalition aimed at countering U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitions to incorporate the Arctic island. Local reports highlighted this development, showcasing a unified front among Greenland’s political parties.
Following the elections earlier this month, four out of the five parties represented in Greenland’s parliament have consented to form a coalition, which will command 23 of the 31 legislative seats. The coalition agreement, expected to be formalized on Friday, was disclosed by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the Demokraatit, the largest party in the parliamentary framework.
The backdrop to this political maneuvering is Trump’s increasing efforts to acquire influence over Greenland “by any means necessary.” In line with this, the U.S. Vice President is scheduled to visit Greenland on Friday. His itinerary includes a stop at America’s Pituffik Space Base, a strategic site supporting missile observation and defense operations.
Nielsen, whose center-right party emerged victorious in the March 11 elections, expressed his intention to assemble the most inclusive coalition possible as a measure to counter U.S. pressures. However, the coalition formation process did not include one party, Naleraq, which exited the negotiations at the start of the week.
The U.S. administration’s keen interest in Greenland stems from its abundant mineral resources and its geostrategic location, which are central to the current international race for Arctic dominance involving the U.S., Russia, and China.
Notably, the coalition’s birth coincides strategically with the Vice President’s anticipated arrival, thereby presenting a united political front. Dwayne Ryan Menezes, head of the Polar Research & Policy Initiative, emphasized the importance of this coalition, interpreting it as a message of unity against what is perceived as an aggressive and disrespectful campaign by the U.S. administration.