Greenland Holds Election Focused on Trump’s Promise to Secure Control of the Island | Elections News

Polling hours were extended at certain locations due to high voter turnout in an election heavily influenced by Trump’s pledge to gain control over the strategically significant Arctic island.

Unofficial outcomes of Greenland’s election are anticipated to be revealed shortly after the polls close, determining which leaders will address U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to assert control over the strategically located Arctic territory.

Voting was extended by an additional half hour beyond the initial 22:00 GMT deadline on Tuesday, responding to high turnout at many of the 72 polling stations on the mineral-rich island, where 40,500 voters were registered to participate.

No exit polls were conducted, and the final vote count is expected to take between three to five hours, according to Greenland’s electoral authority.

Official results will take weeks to certify as ballot papers are transported to the capital, Nuuk, from remote areas via boat, plane, and helicopter.

Social media posts displayed footage and images of voters lining up in the snow and ice outside polling stations in Nuuk, some waiting as long as 45 minutes before the voting period ended. Long lines were also reported earlier on Election Day at various voting locations.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has expressed his desire to make Greenland—a semi-autonomous region of Denmark—a part of the United States, emphasizing its importance to U.S. security interests.

The expansive island, home to a mere 57,000 residents, is at the center of a geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where climate change is making its abundant resources of rare earth metals more accessible and paving the way for new shipping routes.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Bourup Egede, called for this election last month, stating the importance of unity during a “serious time” unlike any previously faced by Greenland.

While Trump has been vocal about his ambition to acquire Greenland, Russia and China have also ramped up military activities in the Arctic region.

Previously a Danish colony, Greenland has been recognized as a territory since 1953. It achieved a level of autonomy in 1979 when its first parliament was established, although Copenhagen continues to manage foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy while contributing nearly $1 billion annually to its economy.

In 2009, Greenland attained the right to declare full independence through a referendum, but it has not yet exercised that right, fearing a decline in living standards without Denmark’s financial assistance.

Julie Rademacher, a consultant and former advisor to Greenland’s government, noted that the initial focus of the election campaign was on the anger and frustration stemming from the historical grievances against Denmark, the former colonial power.

“However, I believe that the fear of a U.S. imperialist strategy has recently overshadowed the resentment towards Denmark,” Rademacher remarked.

The Reuters news agency interviewed numerous residents in Nuuk, all of whom expressed a desire for independence, yet many raised concerns that a hasty transition could harm the economy and compromise Nordic welfare systems such as universal healthcare and free education.

“We don’t want to be part of the U.S. for understandable reasons; healthcare and Trump,” shared Tuuta Lynge-Larsen, a bank employee and Nuuk local, noting the significance of this election.

A January poll indicated that while most Greenlanders support independence, opinions were divided regarding the timing.