Greenland bans foreign political donations amid renewed US interest

2 hrs ago

Listen

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Jack Henry (Video Editor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer)

The parliament in Greenland has moved to curb foreign contributions to candidates in its election. The move comes in advance of the autonomous island’s elections, slated for March.
Greenland is rich in minerals and has been in the headlines after U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks about acquiring the world’s largest island and making it part of the United States.
Key issues for Greenland residents in the upcoming election include independence from Denmark, the United States interest and the economy.

Full Story

Lawmakers in Greenland on Tuesday, Feb. 4, seemed to be safeguarding against U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to acquire the island territory, officially owned by Denmark. Greenland’s parliament passed a measure that bans political donations from foreign or anonymous contributors.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

What does the new bill say?

The language in the bill says it is aimed at protecting Greenland’s political integrity and takes effect immediately.

It also says the bill “must be seen in light of the geopolitical interests in Greenland and the current situation where representatives of a great power have expressed interest in taking over and controlling Greenland.”

One official added that it’s a preventative measure.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

What interest does the U.S. have in Greenland?

The United States has a large military base in Greenland. The autonomous island has a population of a little less than 57,000 people and is geographically 836,000 square miles. It is also rich in minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt and uranium.

Although part of Denmark, Greenland has been self-governed since 2009. For its part, Denmark provides military defense and steers foreign affairs for the island.

Why do political contributions in Greenland matter now?

Prime Minister Mute Egede announced Tuesday that Greenland would hold a general election on March 11. The top issues are expected to be Greenland’s independence, relations with Denmark, the United States and the economy.

Greenland’s economy is heavily reliant on the fishing industry. It also receives over $500 million from Denmark in grants each year, accounting for 20% of the island’s GDP and half of its budget.

A recent poll found that a majority of Greenland’s residents would vote for independence. All five parliamentary parties, including the prime minister, support it.

Recent Trump administration remarks on Greenland

When it comes to the United States and the Trump administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that acquiring Greenland would be in the national interest.

Tags: Campaign donations, Denmark, Donald Trump, Europe, European Union, Greenland, Marco Rubio, rare earth minerals, U.S. military

[Craig Nigrelli]

AS MUCH OF THE TALK TUESDAY CENTERED ON PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S REMARKS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES TAKING OVER THE GAZA STRIP, LAWMAKERS IN GREENLAND WERE BUSY, SEEMINGLY SAFEGUARDING AGAINST TRUMP’S PLAN TO ACQUIRE THE ISLAND TERRITORY. THE GREENLAND PARLIAMENT PASSED A MEASURE THAT BANS POLITICAL DONATIONS FROM FOREIGN OR ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS.
THE BILL’S LANGUAGE SAYS IT IS AIMED AT PROTECTING GREENLAND’S POLITICAL INTEGRITY AND TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. IT ALSO READS THAT THE BILL “ MUST BE SEEN IN LIGHT OF THE GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS IN GREENLAND AND THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE REPRESENTATIVES OF AN ALLIED GREAT POWER HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TAKING OVER AND CONTROLLING GREENLAND.” ONE OFFICIAL CALLED IT A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE.
THE UNITED STATES HAS A LARGE MILITARY BASE IN GREENLAND, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF ONLY ABOUT 57,000 PEOPLE. IT IS 836,000 SQUARE MILE, WHICH IS ROUGHLY ONE-FOURTH THE SIZE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE COUNTRY IS RICH IN MINERALS SUCH AS COPPER, NICKEL, COBALT AND URANIUM. ALTHOUGH PART OF DENMARK, GREENLAND HAS BEEN SELF-GOVERNED SINCE 2009.
PRIME MINISTER, MUTE EGEDE, (PRONOUNCED MEW-TAY, EGG-DAH) ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY, THE DANISH TERRITORY WOULD HOLD A GENERAL ELECTION ON MARCH 11TH. THE TOP ISSUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE GREENLAND’S INDEPENDENCE, RELATIONS WITH DENMARK, AS WELL AS THE UNITED STATES AND THE ECONOMY WHICH IS HEAVILY RELIANT ON FISHING.
A RECENT POLL, BY VERIAN, FOUND THAT A MAJORITY OF GREENLAND RESIDENTS WOULD VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE. ALL FIVE PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER, SUPPORT IT.
MOST RECENTLY, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO CALLED PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DESIRE TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND AND MAKE IT PART OF THE UNITED STATES, QUOTE “ IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.” AND THAT “THIS IS NOT ABOUT ACQUIRING LAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING LAND. “
FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP