Trump’s Greenland Grab: A Threat to Stability and Autonomy
A History of Colonialism and Autonomy
In 2019, when Donald Trump first proclaimed that the US should “buy Greenland,” Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen rightly dismissed the idea as “absurd”. Greenland is not for sale, she noted. While Denmark manages the territory’s foreign and security policies, Greenland sees to its own domestic affairs.
A New Era of Threats
But now that Trump is returning to the White House, he believes that it is an “absolute necessity” for the US to get “ownership and control” of the huge Arctic territory. And even more shockingly, he says that he will not rule out the use of military force to achieve this objective – though threatening “huge tariffs” remains his preferred option.
Greenland’s Status and Autonomy
History matters here. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an actual province of Denmark. The vast island (the world’s largest, in fact) then adopted home rule in 1979. Since 2009, Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark have maintained a wide-ranging autonomy arrangement in which a few policy domains – primarily security and defense – remain under the control of the government in Copenhagen.
Independence and the Future
Most of Greenland’s political parties aspire to gain independence for the island, and under the 2009 arrangement, they have the right to organise a referendum for that purpose. But most Greenlanders recognise that it is too early to take such a step. They first must build up the necessary capacities to function as an independent nation-state.
Russia and China’s Ambitions
While Russia and China also have territorial and economic ambitions in the Arctic, military threats to Greenland are minimal. The closest Russian outpost is 2,000 frozen kilometers (1,240 miles) away, and China’s two Arctic-capable research vessels seem to be active primarily in the waters around Antarctica.
The US Already Has a Presence
Moreover, under a 1951 agreement (and subsequent ones), the US already has the right to base military facilities in Greenland. The Thule Air Base in the far north of the island was a huge facility in the early days of the Cold War, and despite public denials, it even housed nuclear weapons.
Denmark’s Role
Denmark, for its part, operates patrol ships around Greenland, and it will soon acquire surveillance drones; but the primary purpose for its small military presence has been search and rescue.
The Legacy of Colonialism
Of course, the legacy of colonialism is never easy to deal with. Some 88% of Greenlanders are Inuit, and the Greenland-Denmark relationship today is not free of complicated issues from the past. But the US, hardly covered in glory by its treatment of its own indigenous population, is in no position to preach to others about similar issues.
Economic Concerns
True, Greenland has large reserves of the rare earth minerals that are used in many high-tech products. But the investment climate for extracting these resources is far from ideal, given the new political uncertainty around the island, the lack of manpower, and the fragile natural environment.
A Conclusion
Trump’s indecent proposal, delivered at the barrel of a gun, is not only absurd but dangerous. Greenland’s evolving light-touch relationship with Denmark is clearly the best option for the island.
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of Greenland’s autonomy?
A: Greenland has a wide-ranging autonomy arrangement with Denmark, with a few policy domains – primarily security and defense – remaining under the control of the government in Copenhagen.
Q: What are the implications of Trump’s proposal?
A: Trump’s proposal to buy Greenland and use military force to achieve this objective is a threat to stability and autonomy in the region.
Q: What are the economic implications of extracting rare earth minerals in Greenland?
A: The investment climate for extracting rare earth minerals in Greenland is far from ideal, given the new political uncertainty around the island, the lack of manpower, and the fragile natural environment.