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Greenland parties to form broad government in shadow of Trump pressure

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Greenland flags flutter in front of the parliament Inatsisartut in Nuuk, Greenland, February 13, 2025. /Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Greenland flags flutter in front of the parliament Inatsisartut in Nuuk, Greenland, February 13, 2025. /Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

Greenland flags flutter in front of the parliament Inatsisartut in Nuuk, Greenland, February 13, 2025. /Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters

Greenland's Democrats will announce a four-party coalition government on Friday, local media said, 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 revision to the 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.

 

Coalition includes four of the five parties with parliament seats

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.

Parties in Greenland's 31-seat parliament

Democrats – 10 seats – part of coalition
Naleraq – 8 seats – not part of coalition
Inuit Ataqatigiit – 7 seats – part of coalition
Siumut – 4 seats – part of coalition
Atassut – 2 seats – part of coalition

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.

Source(s): Reuters
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