Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again made a lot of noise about Greenland, which such strong public comments have done. His remarks have raised eyebrows in Denmark, the country which has taken over the foreign and defense affairs of the island. According to Trump, Greenland is too much of an asset for the United States, at least for the purpose of guarding the country against potential threats. Even though the comments are not novel, the second term has made the issue more pressing than ever for Trump. This has somehow suggested that the U.S. will no longer be just a political pawn in the Great Game, but will assert its role in shaping the world order.
Strategic Location Of Greenland
- Greenland is the biggest island on the planet but it has a tiny population of around 57000 inhabitants. Approximately, 80% of its surface is ice-covered. Though the island is very close to the US geographically, it is still a dependent territory of Denmark. Greenland has been taking care of its internal affairs since the 1979 referendum while the Danish government is in charge of foreign affairs and defense.
- The island is situated in a very crucial spot in terms of geopolitics. It stands between the three major regions of the world - North America, Europe, and Russia - and thus the U.S. considers the island as indispensable to its global strategic interests.
The Need for Presence and The Military Base
- Trump has called Greenland a necessity for the US security. The island has been supporting the USA from the defense viewpoint for decades. In the 1950s, there was a military treaty between Denmark and the US. The US had several military installations in Greenland during the Cold War time. Some of them were closed later on.
- If the US now seeks to expand its military presence, Denmark is unlikely to strongly oppose it. Both countries are NATO members and maintain close relations. However, Trump’s statements suggest that his interest goes beyond defense cooperation. The US has tried to acquire Greenland before. In 1946, it offered Denmark $100 million in gold, but the proposal was rejected.
Interest in Natural Resources
- Analysts are of the opinion that natural resources are a major factor in Trump's interest in Greenland. The island has significant deposits of rare earth minerals, gold, nickel, and cobalt. These resources are indispensable for the modern industries such as electronics and military manufacturing.
- A few American mining corporations are, therefore, coming forward to get easier access to the resources. As a result, economic motives and not just the concern for security are speculated to be the driving force behind the US interest in Greenland.
The China Factor
- China's growing footprint in Greenland is a no less important concern. The Chinese are putting a lot of money into mining and processing minerals on the island. They are said to have about 11 percent of the mining and mineral processing market share. China is also involved in the research of new Arctic trade routes.
- The melting of Arctic ice due to global warming is bringing about the opening of new trade waterways. In 2018, China published its Arctic policy in which it said that it would put the emerging routes on its list of priorities. The US regards China as a principal adversary in terms of the global game of strategy. Ensuring that Greenland remains more under American influence might be one way of curtailing not only Chinese but also Russian activities in the Arctic.
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