Greenland’s new leader has a message for Trump: ‘We do not belong to anyone.
“President Trump said that the United States ‘will get Greenland.’ Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post.
This statement comes in light of Trumps repeated rhetoric of making Greenland a part of American. For months, news headlines have reported on U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. He has described the Greenland as a matter of national security to USA and has questioned the legitimacy of Danish government sovereignty over Greenland.
Once a Danish colony, it was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953.After a 1979 referendum, it gained autonomy, with foreign affairs and defence under Danish control. This is not the first time that an American administration has attempted to acquire the island. In 1867, following the purchase of Alaska from Russia, the U.S. held unsuccessful talks with Denmark to buy Greenland.
During the Second World War, after Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, the U.S. established military and radio stations on the island. In 1946, Washington offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, which it rejected. More recently, during his first term, Mr. Trump made a similar offer, which was again declined by Greenland.
Why is Greenland important for USA:
The various islands and coastal areas in the Arctic are controlled by eight countries – Canada, Denmark (through Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S. Together, these nations form the Arctic Council, an international body tasked with protecting the environment, conducting scientifc research, and safeguarding the interests of indigenous peoples in the region.These nations exercise sovereignty over the Arctic land and can also exploit resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).Aside from ongoing resource extraction, interest in the Arctic surged following a 2009 U.S. Geological Survey report estimating that the region holds 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of its untapped natural gas reserves.
Most of these resources lie beneath theseabed, making maritime claims highly significant. Greenland also harbours some of the world’s richest deposits of rare earth elements, which drew significant investment interest from Chinese companies in the early 2020s.Only five countries have direct access to the Arctic seabed: Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark (via Greenland), and the U.S. (via Alaska).
As the polars are melting these regions are becoming more accessible and they are yet mostly reamin unexplored,the rich resources of these region are lucrative for geopolitical players in the region.
Russia, which among the Arctic members have better access to region with strong fleet presence pose a significant threat to US ambitions in the region. Thus, having extra footing in the area in form of Greenland in addition to the exclusive economic zone of it is top priority for USA at the moment.
Therefore, in his second term, Trump administration is aggressively pursuing the idea of occupying Greenland. With polls indicating over 80% of Greenlanders in support of full independence. In another survey, 85% of the population opposed becoming a part of the U.S.
The desperation of Trump to acquire Greenland can be seen from his remarks since he stepped in the White House. He even mentioned possible military action to acquire Greenland which saw a strong response from not only Greenland but Danish government too.
However, the matter of concern for Greenland has been the lukewarm response of EUROPEAN UNION on repeated threats by USA. EUROPEAN UNION is walking a tightrope, already at standoff with USA over Ukraine, NATO spending and tariffs it seems the European union is already at handfull with issue to sort out and doesn’t want to make things worse.
Although the island nation has outright rejected the Trump idea of merging with USA.The U.S. should respect the will of the people of Greenland. Any alterations to status- quo should come from mutual decision and democratic referendum.
Reference: The Hindu and CNN world
