Behind Trump’s threat: Why is Greenland so strategically important?

At a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday, United States President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, which he said was critical to American national security.

The Republican leader, who is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, refrained from using military or economic force to avenge the autonomous Danish territory.

Trump has also stated that in order to expand the US’s territory, he wants to become the 51st state and take control of the Panama Canal.

So why does Trump want to acquire Greenland — a territory that is 80 percent covered in snow and is more than 3, 000km (1, 864 miles) from the US capital, Washington, DC? Is this the first time the US has attempted to annex Greenland?

Where is Greenland? What’s its status?

Greenland, the largest island in the world and geographically located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, is geographically located in North America. Though Australia is much larger and is surrounded by water, it isn’t considered an island because it’s a continent.

Greenland is home to some 56, 000 residents, mostly Indigenous Inuit people.

Its capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York (some 2, 900km or 1, 800 miles) than Copenhagen, which is located 3, 500km (2, 174 miles) to the east.

The island was under Danish rule from the early 18th century until 1979, when it became a self-governing territory. Since 2009, Greenland has the right to declare independence through a referendum.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has called for independence from Denmark.

The Arctic island is one of Denmark’s two autonomous territories, the other one being the Faroe Islands.

Greenland is automatically a member of the North Atlantic military alliance because Denmark is a member of NATO.

Although it is one of the 25 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) of the EU, Greenland is not a member state. “OCT nationals are EU citizens”, an EU law website says. Hence, Greenlanders are considered to be EU citizens.

In 1973, Greenland joined the now-defunct European Community with Denmark, but left in 1985. The EU has replaced the European Community.

The EU has not officially commented on Trump’s recent statements.

How have Greenland and Denmark reacted to Trump’s threats?

Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social Media platform on December 23 that “Growland’s ownership and control are a necessity in every way.”

To this, Greenland’s elected Prime Minister Egede said the island was not for sale. “Greenland is ours. We can never and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom”, Egede said in a written comment.

Following Trump’s desire to conquer the autonomous island, the Danish government announced it would increase defense spending in Greenland to $ 1.5 billion.

On Tuesday, ahead of his son Donald Trump Jr’s trip to Greenland, the US president-elect again posted on his Truth Social platform saying: “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation …”.

Following Trump’s latest comments, Egede met with Danish King Frederik X in Copenhagen on Wednesday, but details of the meeting were not made public.

Greenland’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated on Tuesday that the island had no intention of establishing a federal state in the United States, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on Tuesday that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”

“Greenland, as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, enjoys sovereignty under the Rigsfællesskabet framework, and any military intervention would constitute a direct violation of its rights as well as Denmark’s”, Christine Nissen, the chief analyst at the Copenhagen-based think tank Europa, told Al Jazeera.

Denmark and the EU are engaged in a difficult balancing act by attempting to maintain a positive relationship with the United States, a crucial transatlantic partner, while recognizing the seriousness of being threatened by such a fundamental principle as sovereignty.

She said that to de-escalate tensions and protect broader cooperative interests, it is necessary to use strategic diplomacy.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

Trump has previously stated his desire to control the island, which also houses a US military base. Trump canceled his trip to Copenhagen after a close US ally, Denmark, turned down his offer to purchase the island during his first term.

The shortest route between North America and Europe is in Greenland. The US now has a better understanding of its military and its early warning system for ballistic missiles.

By installing radars in the waters that connect Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, the US has expressed interest in expanding its military presence there. Washington intends to track Russian and Chinese vessels in these waters.

Additionally, the island is incredibly rich in minerals, including rare earth minerals used in batteries and high-tech industries.

According to a 2023 survey, 25 of 34 minerals deemed” critical raw materials “by the European Commission were found in Greenland.

The indigenous population of Greenland opposes its mining industry because it does not extract oil and gas. The island’s fishing industry is largely responsible for its economy.

Has the US ever attempted to purchase Greenland?

Yes. Greenland has long been a topic of interest for the US.

In 1867 and 1946, when President Harry S. Truman suggested purchasing Greenland for $100 million, the US has considered doing so at least twice. Denmark rejected the offer.

In 1867, the US bought Alaska from Russia. US Secretary of State William H. Seward made an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate the purchase of Greenland after this.

Following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Denmark during World War II, the US occupied Greenland in 1941. Since then, American forces have been operating from the island’s military and radio base, Pituffik Space Base, which was formerly known as Thule Air Base, in the northwest of Greenland.

In 1946, Truman made a pitch to purchase the island for $100 million, which Denmark rejected. This was done in accordance with Cold War secrets, which was only revealed in an Associated Press report in 1991.

The Mercator projection: How big is Greenland?

In terms of actual size, some modern world maps can be misleading. The Arctic island is 2.17 million square kilometres (836, 330 square miles), making it about three times the size of the US state Texas.

However, the Danish territory is perceived to be larger based on maps. This is because modern world maps frequently use the Mercator projection, which was created by the 1569-era European cartographer Geert de Kremer. The projection’s distortion of landmass proportions has been criticized.

On the Mercator map, it appears that Greenland’s territory is almost as large as Africa’s. However, in reality, 14 Greenlands can fit inside Africa.

Why did Trump’s son visit Greenland?

Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr arrived in Greenland on Tuesday. The Greenland government said that Trump Jr was visiting the island” as a private individual”, and Greenland’s representatives would not meet him.

Despite this, Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Monday, writing: &nbsp”,I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘ MAGA'”, referring to the Make America Great Again movement.

” My son, Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation”, Trump added. “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world”.

How has the world reacted?

Some European leaders are offended by Trump’s recent remarks, which could undermine US-EU ties.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rebuked Trump’s idea on Wednesday. “Borders must not be moved by force,” he said. This principle applies to every country, whether in the East or the West”, he wrote on his X account.

There is concern about recent US statements in discussions with our European partners. It is clear: We must stand together”.

There is “no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

According to Nissen from the Europa think-tank, Trump’s threat “could represent a fundamental rupture” in the US-EU relationship as well as the “collapse of the current international order, including NATO and the liberal world order.”

This underscores Europe’s vested interest in minimizing the likelihood that this will ever materialize, preserving stability, and ensuring that speculative threats remain exactly that: speculative.

Source: Aljazeera