On the 7th of January Donald Trump Jr arrived in Greenland, weeks after his father said he wanted the US to take control of the autonomous Danish territory. The President elect Donald Trump has many times reiterated his plans of taking complete control of the huge island nation and making it a part of the United States.
Although Trump Jr said he was embarking on a “personal day-trip” and had no meetings planned with government officials. The president-elect shared footage of an aircraft bearing the Trump logo arriving in the capital of Denmark, Nuuk.
Taking to social media Donald Trump wrote, “Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
President-elect Donald Trump has recently ignited this controversy when he said “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the US. It seems Trump has already earmarked the arctic region as a possible grand acquisition for the United States
Why Is Trump interested in Greenland
Trump has been ramping up the pressure on this issue, which at first was dismissed by many as another tongue in cheek comment by the President elect, however with the seriousness he is showing in pursuing the narrative it seems that Trump is indeed serious in acquiring the huge region.
Greenland is an extremely important geostrategic and mineral rich region. The island lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is the world’s largest island, and is the location of the northernmost point of land in the world – Kaffeklubben Island off the northern coast, which is the world’s northernmost undisputed point of land.
After the second world war, Denmark had assumed control over the island, but the United States maintained its presence in Greenland. Denmark joined NATO in 1949, and in 1951, while the United States started building the Thule Air Base in secrecy. The installation, which at its height employed 10,000 people, was an important base for defending against possible Soviet attacks on North America during the Cold War and as a potential refueling point for U.S. aircraft. Today, the base is once again an important strategic asset for the U.S. military and its allies.
Thule’s position on the globe and its radar’s 240 degrees of coverage — which projects over the Arctic Ocean and Russia’s northern coast — make it an ideal location to track intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellites in low-Earth orbit, including polar orbit satellites.
Besides being a critical site for missile defense and space situational awareness, Thule hosts the Defense Department’s northernmost deep-water seaport and airfield. Those assets would come into play in any sort of military conflict in the arctic, giving the Pentagon forward- basing options if needed.
The Chinese have also remained extremely interested in the region, attempting to invest heavily in establishing control over some crucial geostrategic assets of Greenland. They have so far been deterred by the investments from Denmark, however China is still looking for a way to gain foothold in the area. The United States is increasingly keen to get control of the island and put an end to any such future developments.
Rare Earths
Greenland also has regions that hold about a quarter of the world’s rare earth minerals, such as cerium and lanthanum. Rare earth minerals contain key ingredients used in many of today’s technologies — from smartphones to MRI machines, as well as electric cars and military jets.
The U.S. was once the world’s top producer of rare earths. Now it is China, and now it has also most of the world’s capacity to process the elements. The Trump administration has labeled rare earth elements essential to national defense, and Washington is working to bolster the national industry.
Much of Greenland is buried under a sheet of ice, more than a mile thick in some places. But warming temperatures in the Arctic are making some of Greenland’s riches, including gems, iron and zinc, more accessible, creating a geopolitical competition for new transportation routes and natural resources.
Russia is building up its military capability in the Arctic. China also has clear designs on the region. It calls itself a near-Arctic nation even though it’s about 900 miles away. Beijing wants to extend its massive infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, to create what it calls a Polar Silk Road by developing shipping lanes and investment opportunities across the Arctic.
Greenland is bigger than Mexico with a sparse population of just 56,000 people. Its economy is heavily dependent on fishing, agriculture and subsidies from Denmark. The United States and China see the Arctic, with its shortage of infrastructure and an abundance of scope, ripe for investment.
Current Situation
Greenlandic authorities clarified that Donald Trump Jr’s visit was conducted in a personal capacity and not officially and no local representatives will be engaging with him. After the visit Donald Trump Jr claimed that they just want to utilize the vast resources of the island which will bring a better future for the local people and their children.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has maintained that though the United States is Greenland’s primary ally the island is not available for purchase. The stance is not expected to deter the US President elect In a rambling news conference on Tuesday, Trump refused to rule out military intervention over the Panama Canal and Greenland, both of which he has said he wants the United States to control.
Trump’s inauguration is just days away and he has already indicated his intentions to use high pressure tactics on Canada, Mexico and Greenland to try and make them states of the US. The comments have sent alarm bells ringing all over the world as it destabilizes the current world order and will usher in a new age of expansionist regimes. If the United State goes through with these plans it would give complete credibility for China and Russia to make their own moves across the globe. The world now waits for January 20th and the subsequent rippling effects of the much awaited second Trump term.
