Greenland seeking UN membership

Greenland wants more influence on foreign and defence policy, reports Greenland’s national broadcasting company KNR.

The coalition parties say that with its strategic location close to the North Pole, Greenland should seek to strengthen its role in international cooperation.

To be granted independent membership in the UN, a nation’s government must apply to the UN Security Council.

This application must be approved by at least nine of the 15 UN Security Council member states, including all five permanent member states – France, China, Russia, the UK and the US.

If the Security Council approves the application, it will be forwarded to the UN General Assembly, where at least two-thirds of the 193 members states must approve it.

Greenland, like the Faroes, is currently represented in the UN via Denmark.

The new government also wishes to extend its collaboration with the European Union, though without applying for EU membership.

Another objective of the new coalition agreement is to establish more representation offices in countries with which Greenland is currently cooperating.

Translated by prosa.fo.