Following several months of relative calm, President Donald Trump and his administration have recommitted to the “acquisition” of Greenland, the expansive Arctic region that serves as a semi-autonomous state of Denmark.
Moreover, the administration has asserted it is considering “a range of options” in an effort to achieve this objective, including but not limited to military force.
Trump believes the purchase to be also of primary concern to the security of his nation, especially as far as “Russian and Chinese presence in the Arctic” are concerned.
“The best course of action is to negotiate an acquisition of those resources, rather than an invasion,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated.
“The matter should be resolved prior to the expiration of President Trump’s term,” stated Karoline Leavitt, the Press Secretary of the White House.
Strategic & Political Reasons
a) Geopolitics and Security Being situated in the high Arctic, Greenland is at the center of the geopolitical battle. The leader of the American campaign for Greenland, Donald Trump, believes the acquisition of the island will give the USA better surveillance of China and Russia.
b) Natural Resources
Greenland has important mineral deposits, such as rare earths, as well as potential petroleum deposits.
c) National Prestige and Domestic Politics
Trump’s rhetoric can be seen in the context of his larger theme for American greatness through expansion. Talk of “getting Greenland” is part of the lexicon of former slogans and has elicited bemusement in both the US and abroad.
Great Britain: The American bid has caused great opposition from world leaders:
Denmark: Danish PM Mette Frederiksen stated that “the U.S. has no right to simply take over Greenland” and also added that Greenland is “not for sale.”
Copenhagen made clear that any use of force would threaten 80 years of intensive cooperation within NATO.
Greenland: The notion has been outright rejected by the leadership of Greenland itself and many of the people. The locals consider it an invasion.
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Europe and NATO:
European leaders such as those in France and the UK have been supporting Denmark and urging that a potential threat by the US military can cause disunity.
Negotiated Purchase: The administration of President Trump insists that it would want to purchase the island from Denmark, an historically unlikely act.
Compact of Free Association: Plans for a status similar to that enjoyed by certain Pacific nations by the USA, in which Greenland would enjoy substantial US influence without takeover, were also proposed by authorities.
Economic Incentives: Some comments have mooted the proposal that financial incentives be offered to the Greenlanders themselves (such as $10,000 per head to entice them), although such a concept is highly impractical.
Military Option: Leavitt and other high-ranking officials have stated that military action is “always an option,” but many politicians agree that a military takeover is unlikely, with many members of NATO opposed to an American military takeover.
Legal and Practical Obstacles There are several reasons why any acquisition is extremely unlikely: Sovereignty of Greenland
Greenland cannot change its status without the agreement of the Greenlandic people and the Danish administration.
NATO: This means that military action against the territory will provoke a large reaction from the alliance, possibly even voiding protection guarantees.
Local Views: Although there have been proposals from the minority of the Greenlandic people regarding stronger ties to the U.S., the majority are of the opinion that the country should have autonomy. They regard the proposals of the American President, Trump, as those of the colonial past.
Bottom Line:
There has been an evolution in Trump’s Greenland purchase plan from verbalization to strategic prioritization, whereby the White House has realized various options available for acquisition, ranging from diplomacy and economic rewards to the rather far-fetched notion of using force. Moreover, world opposition and legal hurdles do not seem negligible in this process since taking over Greenland appears implausible in today’s international politics.
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