The Parliament of Greenland has banned foreign funding of political parties following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The legislation on the "integrity of the political system" of Greenland was approved and came into effect on Tuesday. Local parties, including their youth organizations, can no longer receive donations from foreign or anonymous donors, defined as those who are "living or have lived outside Greenland".
Lawmakers rushed to pass the law ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for March 11.
"Given the geopolitical interest in Greenland and the current situation where representatives of a union superpower have expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and controlling the island, the country is particularly vulnerable to attempts to influence its elections and political decision-making processes," the explanation to the bill states.
The measure also limits domestic political donations. The total amount of donations to any one of the Greenlandic parties cannot exceed 200,000 Danish krone (17,170 euros) overall, while individuals can donate no more than 20,000 krone (1,717 euros) to parties.
Kent Friedberg, senior legal advisor in the Greenlandic parliament, described the bill as "primarily a preventive measure."
Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to gain control over resource-rich Greenland, which he believes is vital for national security due to its strategic position in the Arctic.
Speaking before his inauguration last month, the current head of the White House did not rule out the possibility of achieving this goal through force.
During a recent one-day trip to Greenland, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., promised residents, who were given red caps: "We will treat you well."
Mute Egede, the island's Prime Minister and advocate for independence, insists that Greenland, which is formally part of the Danish Kingdom but enjoys a high degree of autonomy, "is not for sale."
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Most of the 57,000 residents of Greenland agree with this view: a survey conducted last month showed that 85% do not want their island to become part of the U.S. Only 6% expressed "for", while another 9% were undecided.
The Parliament of Greenland has also taken other measures to protect against foreign threats. On Monday, lawmakers approved rules that restrict land purchases by non-citizens unless they have lived in Greenland for at least two years.
The elections are set for March 11, and Egede urged voters for unity: "We are one Greenlandic people, and now is not the time to divide. When we are isolated from the outside world, we have no opportunity to criticize each other," the Prime Minister emphasized.