This week, the President-elect of the United States suggested the possibility of an American invasion of a European nation.
During a news conference on Tuesday, he stated that the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland was crucial to America’s national security and implied that Denmark would be wise to relinquish it.
Would he dismiss military or economic coercion?
“I can’t assure you on either of those two,” Mr. Trump replied.
This statement sent a chill through diplomatic circles, where threats to annex another country’s territory are typically — though not always — condemned.
A spokesperson for the UN Secretary General responded to Mr. Trump’s comments, emphasizing, “The UN Charter is very clear in the need for every member state to respect the territorial integrity of other states.”
European leaders also expressed their disapproval.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and leader of Greenland Múte Egede
“The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country – whether it is to our east or west – and every state must honor that, regardless of size or power,” stated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“Greenland is not for sale,” added Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Denmark, significantly, is a long-term US ally and a founding member of NATO.
Meanwhile, Greenland’s leader, Múte Egede, urged everyone to respect their sovereignty.
He mentioned that while opinions from Danes, Americans, and others are welcome, ultimately “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Why does Mr. Trump have such a strong interest in Greenland that he is prepared to threaten his own allies over it?
In the same press conference, Mr. Trump provided some context.
“You don’t even need binoculars,” Mr. Trump stated.
“You look outside, you see Chinese ships everywhere, Russian ships are all around, and we’re not letting that happen.”
This indicates the new front in great power rivalry between the United States, China, and Russia, analysts shared with RTÉ News.
With its predominantly frozen landscape and a population of fewer than 60,000, Greenland sits at the center of a 21st-century competition for resources and strategic power in the far north.
Warmer temperatures are opening up Arctic shipping routes
“Greenland is a gateway to the Arctic, holding 38.5 million tons of rare earth oxides, extensive uranium reserves, and untapped oil,” noted Velina Tchakarova from the geopolitical risk consultancy FACE, located in Vienna, Austria.
Rare earth elements are vital for various technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and even weapons systems.
Currently, China dominates around 90% of global rare earth processing — these are the essential elements utilized in smartphones, electric vehicles, and advanced weaponry.
Over recent decades, China has significantly invested in the mining and refining of these metals.
Some US and European officials express concern over the implications of an overdependence on China for their tech-reliant economies, especially amid potential geopolitical upheavals.
This is why the largely undiscovered reserves beneath Greenland’s ice are so appealing.
“As global needs for critical minerals rise, Greenland’s resources are crucial for the 4th Industrial Revolution,” Ms. Tchakarova explained.
However, mining in Greenland’s remote and inhospitable conditions presents challenges and high costs. Additionally, most companies outside of China still lack the capacity to process rare earths in large quantities.
But it’s not just the ice-covered resources that alarm Washington.
Some US officials are apprehensive about the increasing collaboration between Russia and China in the Arctic, which is altering the power dynamics in this strategically significant area.
Read more:
Melting ice leads to new cold war in the Arctic Circle; Greenland is not for sale, asserts its leader in response to Trump
China has sought to establish a presence in the Arctic for some time, declaring itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018, despite being about 1,450 kilometers away.
Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine and subsequent diplomatic isolation created an opportunity for China to step in.
Since then, the two nations have formulated agreements to enhance the Northern Sea Route, a shipping shortcut between Asia and Europe that is expected to become viable as the Arctic ice continues to melt.
Last year, for the first time, they conducted joint military patrols in this area.
“The Arctic has emerged as a vital route for the economic and military strategies of the 21st century, serving as a new battleground for systemic competition between America, on one side, and China and Russia, on the other,” Ms. Tchakarova remarked.
“Greenland is the crown jewel in the United States’ Arctic strategy,” she added.
Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base – the US military base in Greenland
Greenland is no stranger to US overtures.
US officials have long regarded this icy outpost as critical to national defense.
Donald Trump is not the first President of the United States to engage Denmark regarding control over Greenland.
In 1867, President Andrew Johnson considered acquiring Greenland, coinciding with the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
During the Nazi occupation of Denmark, the US established a presence in Greenland, setting up listening posts.
After World War II, President Harry Truman once again suggested outright purchasing it.
Declassified documents indicate that the US offered Denmark $100 million in gold and access to Alaskan oil in exchange for the island.
Although the transaction did not occur, the US and Denmark strengthened their ties, founding NATO in 1949.
At the height of the Cold War, 10,000 US troops were based in Greenland, a number that has now decreased to about 200.
The Pituffik Space Base — previously known as Thule Air Base — is America’s northernmost military facility, used for ballistic missile detection and space surveillance.
However, this security relationship has not been without controversy.
In 1968, a US B52 bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed near the base, releasing radioactive material over the ice and contaminating a fjord.
The Danes were displeased to learn about the clandestine storage of nuclear weapons on their territory.
They demanded the US clean up the contamination and transfer the nuclear waste back to America, which was largely done, except for a piece of one bomb that has yet to be found.
Despite the initial tension, relationships soon normalized.
Today, a statement from the US State Department underscores, “The United States and Denmark maintain a strong and enduring security partnership, focused on countering Russian aggression and fostering peaceful cooperation in the Arctic region.”
The President-elect’s son Donald Trump Jr. landed in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city
Yet it seems this partnership could face new challenges with Donald Trump in the presidency.
This strategy could potentially backfire, warned Marisol Maddox, Senior Arctic Analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Polar Institute in Washington, DC.
“Undermining America’s long-standing security alliances with partners like Denmark would only serve the interests of Russia and China,” she stated.
“The US’s strength lies in its alliances,” she remarked, noting that this sets America apart from China.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Greenland.
“This presents an opportunity for Greenland to assert its agency and explore options,” Ms. Maddox continued.
“If the US is going to make aggressive and inappropriate statements, it diminishes its appeal as a partner,” she said.
“The US should consider what Greenland seeks and recognize the substantial benefits that could arise from cultivating a respectful relationship,” she concluded.
