Though no single party won control in the recent election in Greenland, a government has since been formed by the Siumut party and the Inuit Atagatigiit (Inuit Brotherhood), which together control 18 of the 31 seats. Increased control of foreign affairs tops the agenda of the semi-autonomous Danish territory’s new government. Most importantly, the new coalition government wants to renegotiate the 1951 military agreement Denmark signed with the U.S. when Greenland was a Danish colony. The Cold War era deal established four rent-free American military bases. Three have been closed, but the Thule base may be expanded as part of the new U.S. missile shield plan. The new government also plans to hold a referendum on full independence in 2005.
