Australia and the World Past and Present

Trump says that he wants the US to acquire Greenland.

The government of Denmark (which holds the territory) says that it not going to fly.

And the 57,000 odd residents of Greenland are not sold on the idea either.

Perhaps US ownership of Greenland coincides with Trump’s idea for American security.

Perhaps he is outlining, however non-systematically, some kind of Western Hemisphere sphere of influence extending all the way from Greenland to the tip of South America.

How could he acquire it? Buy it?

The US has a history of buying land. In 1803 it paid France $15 million for Louisiana Territory – more than 800,000 square miles.

At the time the US and France were rivals and Napoleon was not able to maintain control of the region, making a deal all the more likely.

Similarly in 1867 the US bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Russia was reeling from the Crimean War and so was receptive to offloading the Alaskan territory.

The US has made offers for Greenland in the past.

In 1910 the offer was to exchange the Dutch Antilles and Mindanao (part of the Philippines) for the arctic isle.

The Truman administration offered to buy the large island for $100 million in 1946.

Part of the interest in Greenland may be mineral. However, much of Greenland’s mineral potential remains unexplored and certainly undeveloped.

Some minerals that have been talked about include coal, diamonds, iron, oil, uranium and zinc.

Mineral exploration has being going on there for over a century, but much remains unknown.

Outside the cities there is virtually no infrastructure – including roads.

So even if particular mineral deposits are found, accessing them and mining them may prove extremely difficult. Mining conditions would probably be the most difficult in the world. Transporting minerals to the coast may prove uneconomic.

With global warming and the melting of ice in the Arctic Circle there is also discussion around shipping routes in the area and their importance for the future.

According to the Arctic Council, arctic shipping has jumped by over 30% in the last decade.

The view from the US may look different to the rest of us. One could potentially make a compelling geo-strategic argument as to why the US would want Greenland. The territory sits on a direct line between Canada and Europe. US rival, Russia, is also a neighbour.

Trump’s suggestion lacks detail. It is more an off-hand remark than a considered policy.

Discussions with the Danes or the residents of Greenland have been minimal.

Trump doesn’t bother and isn’t too interested in the self-determination of Greenlanders.

It is true that there has been some agitation for independence among Greenlanders, but this is not to say that this should interpreted as a desire to become America’s newest state.

The island was colonised by Denmark in the 1700 and was granted self-government on 2009.

At any time since 2009 Greenlanders could have called for a referendum on the question of independence but have chosen not to do so.

Perhaps the economic consequences of independence is playing on their minds.

Around half of Greenland’s annual budget is provided by Denmark.

According to data from a 2018 survey around two-thirds of residents said that they would like be independent. At the time, Trump’s desire for the island were unknown and so the residents were not asked if they would like to become part of the US.

Independence is independence.

Becoming part of the US would by definition not be independence.

Trump could use his favourite weapon – tariffs. He could place them on Denmark and try to squeeze them into giving up Greenland.

Theoretically, the US could march right in and carry out a military takeover.

However this would lead to a crazy situation where one NATO partner invaded another and would trigger a requirement for other NATO partners to come to Denmark’s defense.

Again we see the unconventional approach of Trump eyeing off the territory of allies.

In his first term, Trump pushed European governments to counter a Russian threat. Maybe he is pushing them to counter a possible future American one as well.