By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Louise Rasmussen
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he needs to make Greenland part of america and doesn’t rule out utilizing navy or financial energy to get Denmark at hand over the mineral-rich and strategically essential island.
“Greenland is an unimaginable place, and the folks will profit tremendously if, and when, it turns into a part of our Nation,” Trump mentioned in a Fact Social publish on Monday.
“It is a deal that should occur,” Trump mentioned on Tuesday as his son, Donald Trump Jr., paid a non-public go to to Greenland.
Trump first expressed curiosity in shopping for the largely ice-covered island of simply 57,000 folks from Denmark in 2019 however was rebuffed.
WHY DOES TRUMP WANT GREENLAND?
Greenland, a part of NATO by the membership of Denmark, has strategic significance for the U.S. navy and for its ballistic missile early-warning system for the reason that shortest route from Europe to North America runs by way of the Arctic island.
The U.S. navy maintains a everlasting presence on the Pituffik air base in Greenland’s northwest.
The USA has expressed curiosity in increasing its navy presence, together with inserting radars there to observe the waters between the island, Iceland and Britain, that are a gateway for Russian navy vessels and nuclear submarines.
Greenland is geographically a part of the North American continent, and it is important for america to stop some other main powers establishing a foothold on the island, based on Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher and professional on Greenland on the Danish Institute for Worldwide Research.
The island, whose capital Nuuk is nearer to New York than the Danish capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil and wealth, however growth has been gradual.
A 2023 survey confirmed that 25 of 34 minerals deemed “vital uncooked supplies” by the European Fee had been present in Greenland. They embody vital portions of supplies utilized in batteries, comparable to graphite and lithium, and in addition so-called uncommon earth parts utilized in electrical autos and wind generators.
Greenland has banned extraction of oil and pure fuel for environmental causes, and growth of its mining sector has been snarled in pink tape and opposition from indigenous folks.
This has saved Greenland’s financial system reliant on fishing, which accounts for over 95% of exports, and annual subsidies from Denmark, which cowl roughly half of the general public price range.
In complete, Denmark spends slightly below $1 billion annually on Greenland.
WHO OWNS GREENLAND AND COULD TRUMP BUY IT?
Greenland has been a part of Denmark for greater than 600 years however now controls most of its personal home affairs as a semi-sovereign territory beneath the Danish realm.
It turned a proper territory of Denmark in 1953 and is topic to the Danish structure, which means any change to its authorized standing would require a constitutional modification.
In 2009, the island was granted broad self-governing autonomy, together with the fitting to declare independence from Denmark by a referendum.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who has stepped up a push for independence, has repeatedly mentioned the island will not be on the market and that it’s as much as its folks to determine their future.
Egede was holding talks in Copenhagen on Wednesday with King Frederik which can be prone to be dominated by Trump’s newest remarks.
In 2019 each Greenland and Denmark rejected Trump’s provide to purchase the island.
When Greenland was nonetheless a colony, the U.S. beneath then-President Harry Truman sought to purchase the island as a strategic asset in the course of the Chilly Struggle for $100 million in gold, however Copenhagen declined to promote.
WHAT IF GREENLAND BECOMES INDEPENDENT?
If Greenland turns into unbiased, it might select to turn out to be related to america.
Whereas the vast majority of Greenlanders need independence, few see full independence as viable given their financial dependence on Denmark, which is a part of the prosperous European Union.
One choice might be to kind a so-called “free affiliation” pact with america, just like the standing of Pacific island nations Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
“Greenland is speaking about turning into unbiased from Denmark, however no Greenlanders wish to simply change to a brand new colonial grasp,” mentioned Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher and professional on Greenland.
He finds it unlikely Greenland will vote for independence with out making certain the welfare of its inhabitants.
WHAT DOES GREENLAND WANT?
A majority of Greenland’s inhabitants assist independence, however are divided over the timing and potential influence on dwelling requirements.
Greenlandic politicians have since 2019 repeatedly mentioned they’re curious about strengthening cooperation and commerce with america.
Nevertheless, Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, mentioned the concept of a U.S. takeover needs to be firmly rejected. “I do not wish to be a pawn in Trump’s sizzling desires of increasing his empire to incorporate our nation,” she wrote.
WHAT DOES DENMARK SAY?
The renewed curiosity comes amid heightened tensions between Greenland and Denmark, following revelations of historic misconduct by the previous colonial ruler.
Trump’s 2019 provide to purchase the island was firmly rejected by Denmark, a detailed NATO ally of america, and labelled as “absurd” by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
When requested about Trump’s renewed curiosity on Tuesday, Frederiksen mentioned: “We want very shut cooperation with the Individuals.”
She added: “Alternatively, I want to encourage everybody to respect that the Greenlanders are a folks, it’s their nation, and solely Greenland can decide and outline Greenland’s future.”
