Daily Times

Greenland’s Prime Minister Kim Kielsen was working on Monday to form a new coalition after a pro-independence party pulled out, leaving his government without a parliamentary majority. Partii Naleraq said on Sunday it was quitting the coalition over a plan for Denmark to part-fund the construction of three airports in Greenland. That would imply direct involvement by Denmark in Greenland politics and “we do not want to be part of that”, the party said in a letter, local broadcaster KNR reported.

Kielsen’s coalition’s was formed in May, and Partii Naleraq’s departure leaves it with 12 of 31 seats in parliament. Greenland is a self-ruling part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and while its government decides on most domestic matters, foreign and security policy is handled by Copenhagen.

The Danish government has been concerned that Chinese involvement in the project, as suggested by Greenland, could upset its close ally, the United States.

Published in Daily Times, September 11^th 2018.