Greenland: Why this interest from Trump?
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During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, he floated the idea of buying Greenland from Denmark. At the time, most people laughed and took it as a joke. Now Trump is reiterating his interest in the world’s largest island in the far north. Why? What is Trump’s goal with Greenland? He doesn’t say anything about it, but there are a few things I’d like to take a closer look at.
Greenland and its history
First, a little about the island’s history. The large, almost completely ice-covered island is actually located near the east coast of Canada. Greenland belonged to Norway until the union between Denmark and Norway. Formally, Greenland became part of Norway in 1261. When the plague came to Norway in 1349, the country was hit very hard. As a result, Norway entered into a union with Denmark. The union between Norway and Denmark lasted until 1814. The dissolution of the union was due to the Napoleonic Wars. Denmark-Norway was on the losing side and Norway was given in war booty to Sweden. The problem was that Greenland was not transferred, but remained part of Denmark. 88% of the population of Greenland are Inuit.
After Norway’s independence from Sweden in 1905, certain circles in Norway demanded the return of parts of Greenland. This applied largely to eastern Greenland, where Norway had major fishing interests. However, these attempts to regain parts of Greenland were not supported by the authorities in Norway, but were more populist statements.
The US also tried to buy Greenland from Denmark just after the end of World War II. In 1946, then US President Harry Truman wanted to buy Greenland from Denmark.
The geopolitical and strategic reason
Located between North America and Europe, Greenland’s strategic location in the Arctic makes it important for military and geopolitical control in the region. The U.S. already has a significant presence in Greenland, especially through Thule Air Base, which is an important radar station and part of the U.S. defense system.
With increasing great power rivalry in the Arctic – particularly with Russia and China – control of Greenland could strengthen US influence in the region.
With ice melting as a result of global warming, natural resources in the Arctic are becoming more accessible. There are probably large natural resources in the form of oil, gas and minerals in the area. These are natural resources that all the major powers would like to have.
Equally important in a military strategy is Greenland’s location. The island is very close to Canada and the US east coast. For example, the shortest route between the US and Russia is through the northern areas of the Arctic. Russia’s large maritime base close to the Norwegian border in the north is also of concern to the US. There are also large quantities of Russian nuclear weapons in this area. The reason for the naval base and the large quantities of nuclear weapons is how close this is to the USA.
The economic reason
Trump himself is a businessman and sees business in most things. Greenland’s untapped natural resources in the form of oil, gas and minerals can be a motivation.
The general scepticism in Europe towards encroachment on Arctic nature may lead Trump to believe that if the US manages the island, it will be easier to extract these resources. The scepticism towards oil extraction in these areas, for example, is because an oil spill would be a disaster for animals and nature. Trump is not exactly known for taking environmental considerations into account in his policies.
Greenland and Trump’s need to be remembered
It’s possible that Trump needs a big issue that he will be remembered for. An issue that can be highlighted as a great victory. It’s not just in Greenland that Trump is floating the idea of US expansion. He has said that Canada could become America’s 51st state. Donald Trump also wants the US to regain control of the Panama Canal.
All 3 of these almost incomprehensible thoughts have one thing in common. They want to be remembered. Maybe this is the trophy Trump wants.
Sources:
https://snl.no/Gr%C3%B8nlandssaken
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland