Greenland was an American protectorate during World War II when Denmark was occupied. The US was allowed to build radar stations and rent-free bases on its territory after the war. That includes today’s Thule Air Force base. China and Russia have shown an interest in Greenland in recent years. Who knows what minerals the thaw will reveal.
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What is known is that Greenland has large deposits of Rare Earth, among may other metals.
Rare earth Elements are very important to the production of electronics, both for civilian and military use and trade in it is today nearly fully controlled by China.
Rare Earth is actually not that rare, but the problem is that to extract the various rear earth elements from it is very polluting. US stopped production for this reason.
The amount of ore required to produce small quantity of the various elements makes it uneconomical to transport the ore over long distances, thus mines and processing plants will have to be in relatively close proximity. If US could take control of Greenland they could set up mining and production on Greenland without having to worry about polluting their own soil and water.
The US would also be less vulnerable to Chinese threats to stop export and reduce production to own requirements only. No direct threats have been made yet, but President Xi Jing Ping made a well publicised visit to a Rare Earth processing plant not so long ago.
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Carl Bildt, the former Swedish Prime and Foreign Minister has given his opinion in a WP article:
There is also this newly surfaced fairytale from HCA:
Amazingly current for something written 200 years ago or so.
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He exactly nails it. Insulting the Danish for not caving in to an absurd and foolish request and at the same time praising the leader of North Korea. Friend and fie turned around. What’s next?
Calling the Chair of the Federal Reserve an enemy of America because he won’t overtly bow to the King’s wishes could be one answer to your question of what’s next.
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Sewards Folly, the man caught hell for suggesting America purchase Alaska from the Russians! (anyone read history?) furthermore;, personal/personality relations have very little to do with how governments react with one another. Dutchie’s posted article is from CNN, They are not known to be impartial to anything Trump says. In another 15 years Greenland is suppose to be growing palm trees! Maybe it isn’t such a bad/absurd idea?
The Alaska purchase was in a different era and not relevant today.
Even if palm trees should grow on Greenland in the next 1000 years, why would that justify a sale of this self-governing Danish territory to USA?
Greenland today is a democracy with their own government and the same welfare standard as the other Nordic countries. Why would they become like Puerto Rico and Guam?
The people that live there have no wish to become wardens of USA and Denmark do not wish to sell any part of their territory to anyone. The whole idea is ludicrous.
Even if would suite USA to take control of this large island for strategic reasons, or just to exploit the riches of it’s land and sea territory, doesn’t mean that they can buy it, or take it militarily, and expect the rest of the world to accept it. Those days are over.
It isn’t too populated. Even Bill Gates could give every citizen there a couple million and it’d be a done deal? Well, if they have self determination there! but i’d suppose Denmark would want their share!!
Trump could have it tomorrow if he really wanted. Who’s going to stop him, a bunch of “countries” with no military? Lol
LOL, that’s what the British said around 1775. More recently, Afghanistan etc have shown having no “military” is no impediment .
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A stupid suggestion because the US would lower themselves to the level of Putin who actually did this with the invasion and occupation of the Crimea. It would be the end of the free world so far is clear. Good luck with it!
Looks like Trump accomplished exactly what he wanted. He has all of you distracted from serious business. If you’re busy looking for squirrels maybe you won’t notice the emperor has no clothes…
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You may be surprised but not everybody in Greenland, or in the rest of the world for that matter, is for sale for a “couple of millions”.
Nor is it as simple as “US can do what they want because they are the most powerful military power in the world”.
You are still dependent on having friends in the world, even if you and your ilk don’t understand that.
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Every man has his price. One might sell their country … … selling your soul is of course a different subject isn’t it?
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welcome to the new and exciting reEEeeCaptain forum!
A Channel 4 News report on the case:
And a bit about the potential for Greenland when the ice melts:
US aid program for Greenland is welcomed, but…
does it come with too much demand and US vested interest??