President Donald Trump has insisted the U.S. must “get” Greenland, “a technique or one other.” But it surely’s not the primary time U.S. leaders have had their eyes on the icy, sprawling island.
Situated in the course of contested waters between the U.S., Russia and Western Europe, Greenland is located at some extent that might defend the North Atlantic passage from Russian ships and submarines. It was a key army vantage level through the Chilly Conflict, and President Harry Truman provided to purchase Greenland from the Danes in 1946.
The island can be a switch level for communication cables that cross the Atlantic. European officers declare Russian “ghost ships” have been destroying such cables by dropping their anchors and dragging them throughout the ocean ground.
Better management over the island wouldn’t solely supply the U.S. the shortest ship path to Europe but in addition the chance to bolster its ballistic missile early warning system and place radar on the ocean ground to trace the actions of Russian and Chinese language ships.
US ACCUSES DENMARK OF TREATING GREENLANDERS AS ‘SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS’ DURING VANCE VISIT TO ARCTIC BASE
From left: Former homeland safety advisor Julia Nesheiwat; second girl Usha Vance; nationwide safety advisor Mike Waltz; Vice President JD Vance; Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah; and Secretary of Power Chris Wright pose as they tour the U.S. army’s Pituffik House Base in Greenland on Friday. (Jim Watson/Pool by way of Reuters)
The island rests on prime of profitable provides of crucial and uncommon earth minerals, comparable to cobalt, nickel, uranium and iron — supplies which can be important to electrical autos, medical gear, electronics, batteries and superior protection techniques.
The U.S. was as soon as a prime producer of uncommon earth minerals, however has been knocked off by China. China at the moment dominates the worldwide provide chain with entry to 60% of the world’s provide, however Greenland could possibly be a “sport changer,” in keeping with nationwide safety legal professional Irina Tsukerman.
“Their whole assets of those uncommon earths could possibly be larger than what China has,” she informed Fox Information Digital.
Vice President JD Vance, second girl Usha Vance, nationwide safety advisor Mike Waltz and Power Secretary Chris Wright, together with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, visited Greenland on Friday.
“Our message to Denmark may be very easy: you haven’t achieved a superb job by the folks of Greenland,” the vp remarked on the journey.
“You underinvested within the folks of Greenland, and you have underinvested within the safety structure of this unbelievable, all-beautiful landmass full of unbelievable folks. That has to vary and since it hasn’t modified, for this reason President Trump’s coverage in Greenland is what it’s.”
TRUMP SAYS ‘WE NEED GREENLAND FOR INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND SECURITY’ AHEAD OF VANCE TRIP
Infographic with map exhibiting Greenland, the U.S. and Denmark. (Guillermo Rivas Pachecovalentina Breschiclara Morineau/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
Greenland is estimated to have the world’s eighth-largest reserve of uncommon earths, just behind the U.S. However its minerals have confirmed tough to entry — 80% of the island’s floor is roofed in thick sheets of ice. The island additionally has numerous purple tape: strict environmental and social influence necessities imply the allowing course of takes time.
The nation’s financial system is at the moment constructed on fishing and welfare: Denmark provides round $700 million every year, practically half of Greenland’s finances.
The U.S. has dangled “billions” in funding to mine minerals in Greenland as a part of an effort to scale back its reliance on China, although China has already had a restricted involvement in mining initiatives there.
“China is extra involved about entry to the Arctic than these minerals,” mentioned Tsukerman.
Some 80% of Greenland is roofed in ice, rendering its uncommon earths tough to entry. (Reuters/Leonhard Foeger/File Picture)
“China has centered its mineral efforts on Africa, the place it’s certainly far forward of the U.S. Russia has been centered on the Arctic,” she continued. “There’s been rising talks about growing NATO presence within the space to discourage Russian and Chinese language vessels from getting into.”
There’s oil and fuel, too, however in 2021 Greenland handed a ban on all future oil and fuel exploration and extraction.
Because the ice caps proceed to soften, the waters round Greenland have gotten increasingly more navigable — that means ships touring from Asia and Europe can sail polar routes and keep away from heading south to the Panama and Suez canals.
U.S. and Danish defenses on the island have change into outdated, simply as Russia is refurbishing its personal Arctic ports. Greenland as soon as hosted dozens of U.S. bases and outposts, however at this time hosts only one: Pituffik House Power Base. As soon as house to round 10,000 U.S. troops, simply round 200 are deployed there now.
“We want Greenland for worldwide security and safety. We want it. We have now to have it,” Trump mentioned in an interview on Wednesday.
The territory largely opposes the thought of becoming a member of the U.S.
In response to Trump’s threats to take Greenland, Denmark introduced a $2 billion funding in protection on the island in January.
Denmark’s protection intelligence service has decided Greenland to be “a precedence for Russia, and it’ll show its energy by way of aggressive and threatening conduct, which is able to carry together with it a larger threat of escalation than ever earlier than within the Arctic.”
“We have now not invested sufficient within the Arctic for a few years,” Danish Protection Minister Troels Lund Poulsen admitted just lately. “Now we’re planning a stronger presence.”
