Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, but now has extensive self-governing rights and there are calls for the territory to become independent from Denmark. (Reuters: Sarah Meyssonnier)
In short:
One half of Greenland's ruling coalition plans to hold a national vote on independence from Denmark after a general election is held in March.
The Siumut party plans to invoke part of a law that granted Greenland increased autonomy, so the territory can negotiate its future amid takeover threats from the US Trump administration.
What's next?
Greenlanders will head to the polls for a general election on March 11.
Greenland could hold a national vote on independence from Denmark after a general election next month, according to one of the country's ruling coalition political parties.
The semi-autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark called a general election on Wednesday to be held on March 11.
Leading issues in the election campaign include Greenland's aspirations to be independent, and its relationship with Denmark and the United States under President Donald Trump who has repeatedly expressed a desire to "get" the strategically significant island.
Siumut, a partner in Greenland's two-party government coalition, plans to invoke an article in a 2009 law that granted Greenland increased autonomy — including the right to negotiate full independence — the party's political spokesperson Doris Jensen told Reuters on Thursday.
Ms Jensen said Greenland needed to be independent from Denmark to be able to negotiate its future.
"Until our country achieves the status of an independent state, our opportunities to officially participate in negotiations will be limited," she said.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 but now has extensive self-governing rights.
Siumut party leader Erik Jensen also told Danish broadcaster DR he expected the vote on independence would happen "within the next election period", but was not more specific.
Donald Trump Jr, the son of the new US president, visited Greenland in January amid talk of a potential takeover by America of the island. (Reuters: Emil Stach/Ritzau Scanpix)
General elections in Greenland are held every four years.
All five political parties in parliament have said they do not want Greenland to become part of the United States.
Why the idea of Trump takeover scares Greenland
Photo shows Donald Trump, wearing a red tie and blue suit, sits at a desk with hands crossed in front of him.
An opinion poll published last week also indicated 85 per cent of Greenlanders are opposed to the idea, with nearly half saying they see Mr Trump's interest as a threat.
Greenland, rich in untapped mineral resources, relies heavily on fishing and grants from Denmark for its economy.
Mr Jensen said any decision on independence must be made with full awareness of the implications.
"It must be on an informed basis, so that the population is not in doubt about the consequences," she said.
"We have a welfare society that must function. We have some economic aspects that we also need to look at."
The social-democratic Siumut party holds 10 seats in the 31-seat parliament, while the country's third-biggest party — Naleraq — has also said it wants to sever ties with Denmark immediately.
Greenlanders 'offended' by Trump takeover proposal
Greenland's minister for trade, business and resources Naaja Nathanielsen this week told the ABC's Radio National Hour that the newly-sworn-in US president's rhetoric about taking over the island has caused offence among Greenlanders.
"We take offence, of course, when we are being discussed like a commodity to sell or buy," she said.
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's minister for trade, business, resources, justice and gender equity, says Greenlanders have taken offence at the positon of Donald Trump. (AFP: James Brooks)
"I think that it is very important for us to underline that we are Greenland, we are Greenlanders, we are a democracy, we have our own government, we have our own parliament, and we are working under the rule of law and we expect our allies to respect that."
Were the US to actually use force to try and take over the island, Ms Nathanielsen acknowledged that pushback would be required by something bigger than Greenland.
"We don't have any force to show" she said, emphasising that all Greenland can do is call for respect and dialogue.
"We are a micro-state and what we can do is to make sure that we have good allies and that people will respect that we are a democracy and a land in our own right, people in our own right and we have the right to decide whom we're going to be a part of."
ABC/Reuters
