Greenland agrees to form broad government in shadow of Trump pressure, local media reports
Greenland’s Democrats will announce a four-party coalition government on Friday, local media said on Thursday, following an election overshadowed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the island.
The expected announcement of a broad coalition would come on the day that U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to visit the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
Vance, in a revised travel plan that initially upset both Greenland and Denmark, is expected to visit the U.S. military base at Pituffik in the north on Friday.
The original plan included a visit by Vance’s wife, Usha, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, to a popular dog-sled race, with no invitation from Greenland’s authorities.
Greenlandic broadcaster KNR said, without identifying its sources, the coalition announcement would take place around 1100 local time (1300 GMT) on Friday.
The coming announcement was confirmed to Reuters by one anonymous source familiar with the talks.
The source said the new government would be led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the pro-business party the Democrats, which emerged as the biggest party as it tripled its representation to 10 seats in a March 11 general election.
Nielsen had urged the parties to set aside disagreements and swiftly form a broad coalition government to show unity in the face of Trump’s campaign to annex the territory.
The expected coalition, which spans much of the political spectrum, represents 23 of the 31 parliamentary seats. The Naleraq party, a staunch pro-independence party that doubled its seats to eight in the election, will not be part of the coalition, according to KNR, newspaper Sermitsiaq and the source familiar with the talks.
Sermitsiaq reported that Nielsen confirmed the coalition agreement. His party did not respond to requests for comments via phone and email.
Since taking office in January, Trump has vowed to make Greenland part of the United States, saying it is vital to U.S. security interests, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders.
Mute Egede, Greenland’s acting Prime Minister, has repeatedly emphasized that the island is not for sale and its people will determine their future.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: A look at how the Canadian military is training for potential conflicts in the North, CBC News
Finland: Finnish Defence Minister tells party leaders shrinking fighter fleet would be “irresponsible”, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland’s FM announces defence review, calls revamped security policy ‘urgent’, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norway’s Arctic ambassador speaks at Murmansk congress via video conference, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Putin says Arctic rivalries increasing, but economic cooperation still possible, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish defence spending to rise by SEK 300 billion over the next decade, Radio Sweden
United States: Trump’s Greenland rhetoric, VP Vance visit, could backfire on U.S.: expert, Eye on the Arctic
