COPENHAGEN, Denmark

Greenland confirmed on Wednesday that legislative elections will take place on March 11, a day after the island nation's parliament decision to prohibit foreign political donations, Danish state news media reported.

“We are in the midst of a serious time, a time that we have never experienced in our country," Prime Minister Mute Egede said in a social media post.

Egede, the leader of the center-left Inuit Ataqatigiit party, who has led a coalition government since 2021, has also announced his candidacy for re-election.

According to the Danish state news media outlet DR, he emphasized the importance of national unity. "The time is not for internal division but for cooperation and coming together for our country," he said.

Amid concerns about foreign interference in the election, Greenland's parliament on Tuesday approved legislation banning foreign or anonymous donations to political parties.

Since late December, when US President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in annexing the Arctic island, Egede has repeatedly affirmed that Greenland is "not for sale" but remains "open for business."

Greenland, a Danish-controlled territory since 1953, has piqued the interest of the US due to its strategic location and abundant mineral resources. Tensions rose after Trump refused to rule out economic or military action to secure Greenland, claiming that it was critical for "the protection of the free world."

However, a survey conducted last month showed that 85% of Greenland’s population opposes joining the US.

Critics argue Trump’s interest in Greenland is less about security and more about its untapped resources, including critical minerals, oil, and gas, Firstpost media outlet reported earlier.

In response to Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland, European Council President Antonio Costa reaffirmed the bloc’s “full support” for Denmark.

Speaking to Euronews in an interview last week, Costa stressed that the territorial integrity of Denmark is an “essential issue” for the EU. “Denmark is a sovereign state. Denmark defines its interests, and the European Union will support Denmark,” Costa said.

“We must not stop defending these principles when the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is at stake,” he said, emphasizing that sovereignty and stability remain core EU values.