At a information convention at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida on Tuesday, United States President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his want to accumulate Greenland, which he mentioned was vital to American nationwide safety.
The Republican chief, who is ready to be inaugurated on January 20, refused to rule out utilizing army or financial energy to attain the purpose of taking on the autonomous Danish territory.
Trump has additionally mentioned he needed to make Canada the 51st state of the US and seize management of the Panama Canal, as a part of his push for US territorial growth, since profitable the elections in November.
So why does Trump need to purchase Greenland — a territory that’s 80 p.c lined in snow and is greater than 3,000km (1,864 miles) from the US capital, Washington, DC? Is it the primary time that the US has tried to accumulate Greenland?
The place is Greenland? What’s its standing?
Positioned between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, Greenland is the world’s largest island and geographically a part of North America. Although Australia is way bigger and is surrounded by water, it isn’t thought of an island as a result of it’s a continent.
Greenland is residence to some 56,000 folks, largely Indigenous Inuit folks.
Its capital, Nuuk, is nearer to New York (some 2,900km or 1,800 miles) than Copenhagen, which is situated 3,500km (2,174 miles) to the east.
The island was beneath Danish rule from the early 18th century till 1979, when it grew to become a self-governing territory. Since 2009, Greenland has the best to declare independence by way of a referendum.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has referred to as for independence from Denmark.
The Arctic island is certainly one of Denmark’s two autonomous territories, the opposite one being the Faroe Islands.
Since Denmark is part of NATO, Greenland is by default part of the North Atlantic army alliance.
Greenland is just not a member state of the European Union, however is related to it as one of many 25 abroad nations and territories (OCTs) of the EU. “OCT nationals are EU residents,” an EU legislation web site says. Therefore, Greenlanders are thought of to be EU residents.
In 1973, Greenland joined the now-defunct European Group with Denmark, however left in 1985. The EU has changed the European Group.
The EU has not formally commented on Trump’s current statements.
How have Greenland and Denmark reacted to Trump’s threats?
On December 23, Trump in a put up on his Reality Social media platform mentioned that “the possession and management of Greenland is an absolute necessity”.
To this, Greenland’s elected Prime Minister Egede mentioned the island was not on the market. “Greenland is ours. We’re not on the market and can by no means be on the market. We should not lose our lengthy wrestle for freedom,” Egede mentioned in a written remark.
The Danish authorities introduced it might increase defence spending in Greenland to the tune of $1.5bn following Trump’s want to take over the autonomous island.
On Tuesday, forward of his son Donald Trump Jr’s journey to Greenland, the US President-elect once more posted on his Reality Social platform saying: “Greenland is an unimaginable place, and the folks will profit tremendously if, and when, it turns into a part of our Nation ….”
Following Trump’s newest feedback, Egede met with Danish King Frederik X in Copenhagen on Wednesday, however particulars of the assembly weren’t made public.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned on Tuesday that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”, whereas its International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned that the island had no ambition to grow to be a federal state in america.
Why does Trump need Greenland?
This isn’t the primary time Trump has expressed a want to take management of the island, which hosts a US army base. Trump cancelled his journey to Copenhagen after Denmark, an in depth US ally, rejected his supply to purchase the island throughout his first time period.
Greenland presents the shortest route from North America to Europe. This offers the US a strategic upper-hand for its army and its ballistic missile early-warning system.
The US has expressed curiosity in increasing its army presence in Greenland by inserting radars within the waters connecting Greenland, Iceland and the UK. These waters are a gateway for Russian and Chinese language vessels, which Washington goals to trace.
The island can also be extremely wealthy in minerals, together with uncommon earth minerals used within the manufacture of batteries and high-tech business.
In response to a 2023 survey, 25 of 34 minerals deemed “vital uncooked supplies” by the European Fee have been present in Greenland.
Greenland doesn’t perform the extraction of oil and gasoline, and its mining sector is opposed by its Indigenous inhabitants. The economic system of the island is essentially reliant on its fishing business.
Has the US tried to purchase Greenland earlier than?
Sure. The US has lengthy expressed an curiosity in Greenland.
The US has thought of buying Greenland at the least twice, together with in 1867 after which in 1946, when President Harry S Truman proposed shopping for it for $100m. Denmark rejected the supply.
In 1867, the US purchased Alaska from Russia. After this, US Secretary of State William H Seward tried to barter the acquisition of Greenland from Russia, however the try failed.
The US occupied Greenland in 1941 following Nazi Germany’s invasion of Denmark throughout World Conflict II. It established a army and radio presence within the island and American forces have maintained a everlasting presence at Pituffik Area Base, beforehand generally known as the Thule Air Base, in Greenland’s northwest ever since.
Whereas Greenland was nonetheless a Danish colony in 1946, Truman pitched to purchase the island for $100m, a proposal Denmark rejected. This was carried out beneath Chilly Conflict secrecy and was solely made public in 1991 in an Related Press report.
The Mercator projection: How massive is Greenland?
Some world maps immediately will be deceptive when it comes to how giant Greenland really appears. The Arctic island is 2.17 million sq. kilometres (836,330 sq. miles), making it about thrice the dimensions of the US state Texas.
Nonetheless, the Danish territory is perceived to be bigger based mostly on maps. It is because trendy world maps generally use a template referred to as the Mercator projection, devised by European cartographer Geert de Kremer in 1569. The projection has been criticised for distorting proportions of landmasses.
On the Mercator map, Greenland territory is proven to be virtually as giant as Africa. Nonetheless, in actuality, 14 Greenlands can match inside Africa.
Why did Trump’s son go to Greenland?
Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr arrived in Greenland on Tuesday. The Greenland authorities mentioned that Trump Jr was visiting the island “as a non-public particular person”, and Greenland’s representatives wouldn’t meet him.
Regardless of this, Trump took to his Reality Social platform on Monday, writing: “I’m listening to that the folks of Greenland are ‘MAGA’”, referring to the Make America Nice Once more motion.
“My son, Don Jr, and varied representatives, will probably be touring there to go to a few of the most opulent areas and sights.
“Greenland is an unimaginable place, and the folks will profit tremendously if, and when, it turns into a part of our nation,” Trump added. “We are going to defend it, and cherish it, from a really vicious exterior world.”
How has the world reacted?
Trump’s current feedback have drawn ire from some European leaders.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rebuked Trump’s concept on Wednesday. “Borders should not be moved by power. This precept applies to each nation, whether or not within the East or the West,” he wrote on his X account.
“In talks with our European companions, there may be an uneasiness relating to current statements from the US. It’s clear: We should stand collectively.”
French International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot instructed nationwide radio on Wednesday that there was “no query of the EU letting different nations on the earth, whoever they could be … assault its sovereign borders.”