It is the largest island in the world, located in the far north of the Atlantic between Canada Iceland and North Pole, covered for 80% of its territory from the ice, rich in minerals such as uranium, iron, oil, gas, gold and rare lands, populated by just 56 thousand inhabitants, for the vast majority of indigenous origin, inuit, who live concentrated on the coasts and in the capital Nuk. Until a few months ago, Greenland was an almost isolated land, little known and considered, on the edge of the planet. Never as now the island – the name in Danish means “green earth” – has aroused the interest of the international community and on the occasion of the political elections he found himself with the eyes of the world focused on him, since the US president Donald Trump targeted it, declaring that he wants to tear it to Denmark and take it to the American bed (even if he hasn’t explained how). In fact, Greenland belongs to the Danish kingdom, even if a self -government has been granted and since 2009 – following the 2008 referendum recognized by Copenhagen which opened the way to independence – GOde of a large autonomy in legislative, judicial and in the management of natural resources. While Denmark still maintains control over finance, foreign policy and military defense.
The early elections that took place on 11 March – to renew the 31 seats of the Unicameral Parliament – They delivered the victory to the center -right of the Democratic Party (Demokraatit) to date in the opposition, which has obtained 29.9% of the consents (at least according to temporary estimates, since to certify the official results it will take weeks). Even in Greenland, therefore, Nationalism prevails, with the aspiration to independence, According to the motto “Greenladia belongs to the Greenlanders”. The trial of full detachment from Denmark has already started with a 2009 law, which provides for the negotiation of an agreement with the Copenhagen government and later a referendum.
Reaching full, complete independence, however, is not a simple path, First because Greenland receives important financial subsidies from Denmark (to which it should give up), second for the expansionist aims of Trump, who has set up collision with Copenhagen And he wants to conquer the island in order to have precious and highly sought after critical minerals of the Greenland subsoil and to oppose the hegemony of Russia and China by acquiring control of the new maritime commercial routes, of which, with climate change and the dissolution of the ice, Greenland with its strategic location represents the pivot. In short, the competition between the great powers has no more boundaries and, now, looks more and more towards the Arctic.
(Photo Ansa: an electoral manifesto with the candidates of the Demokraatit Party)
