Will the United States Annex Greenland

The next day (January 22), US President Donald Trump landed in Davos in a standby aircraft as Air Force 1 had to return to Washington, DC, after it developed a minor electrical defect. President Trump was in Switzerland to address a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is a think tank based in Geneva. The forum meetings are held annually. More than 60 heads of state and 150 delegates, including a team from India led by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnav, attended the session.

WEF takes on various global issues, such as conflicts, climate change, and economic challenges, and focuses on peaceful solutions. The composition of the Gaza Peace Board was presented for approval. The forum debated on the sovereignty of Greenland and the future of NATO.

President Trump has been advocating for taking over Greenland since the beginning of his second tenure. He said before boarding for Davos, “We want this piece of land for the protection of the world. This enormous, unsecured island is actually part of North America. The US would provide the Golden Dome security shield from northern threats and act as an advanced post to cover Greenland, Iceland, the UK gap (GIUK) gap of 700 km in the North Atlantic Ocean, from where SSBNs of Russia and China may infiltrate with Nukes.”

Greenland is the world’s largest ice-capped island and lies between the Arctic and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This autonomous territory is under the kingdom of Denmark, which has three parts: the mainland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, almost touching Canada

The transatlantic relations between the US and its European partners in NATO remain tense over Trump’s threat to take over Greenland. Trump has also threatened 10% tariff on eight European countries (France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherland and Finland) if they oppose his proposal on Greenland. For the first time after World War 2, Europe and the United States seem to be drifting apart, whereas China and Russia are getting closer. What a paradox!

History of Greenland 

Greenland is the world’s largest ice-capped island and lies between the Arctic and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is an autonomous territory under the kingdom of Denmark, which has three parts: the mainland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, almost touching northern Canada. Initially, Greenland was a territory of Norway. It became a Danish colony in 1380 and became an integral part of Denmark officially in 1953. It was granted full autonomy in 1983, and it has its own governing council. With these, old Greenlandic names were reintroduced.

Greenland is called ‘Kalaallit Nunaat’ by locals. The old capital was Godthab, and the current capital is Nuuk, which is located in south-western tip of Greenland. The total area of Greenland is 2 million square km with a coastline of 44,087 km. Its population is just 57,728. Nuuk is 3200 km from Copenhagen (Denmark), whereas Iceland, the nearest European landmass, is just 320 km away.

Historical evidence suggests that Greenland was home to Palaeo-Inuit clans from 2500 BC to 1300 BC, which was replaced by the Saqqaq culture, which lasted until 800 BC. The nomads inhabited the southwestern region and hunted bears, seals, and foxes. Reindeers and dogs were used as means of transport. Dorset people appeared in the south, and Thule tribes were found in North Greenland.

During the 1 AD period, Icelanders and Norwegian sailors, under Captain Red Erik, approached the southern and western region and established three settlements on the fjords. Both the Dorsets and the Thule tribes were tamed by the armed Europeans. These mixed groups were called Norse. Norwegian troops occupied Norse settlements in 1261. The Kingdom of Norway entered into a Union with Denmark in 1380. Greenland also came under the rule of the King of Denmark and became part of the Kalmar Union in 1396. During extreme cold conditions and plague, Norse and Dorset settlements in the north became extinct. South settlements of the Thule origin region survived the famines.

French President Emmanuel Macron termed Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland and make it a part of the US ‘unacceptable’, saying threats and intimidation tactics will be challenged. British PM Kier Strammer criticised the US intentions and tariff threat as ‘insane’. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen termed it a ‘blackmail’

The First Map of Greenland

Portugal’s King Manuel was the first to send an expedition in 1500, which found everything frozen and headed south. He found Labrador and Newfoundland and made the first map of Greenland. King Christian IV of Denmark sent a series of expeditions to the northern region in 1605-07 under English explorer James Hall to locate the Norse people, but found no one. In 1721, a joint Danish and Norwegian mission under Missionary Hans Egede and his son Paul spent 15 years establishing the Greenland seminary at Godthab (Good Hope) to convert the Norse locals and turn it into a colony. The Danes permitted only Danish traders and soon established total control. In 1841, the Treaty of Kiel between Denmark and Norway was dissolved. Greenland came under the jurisdiction of Denmark. Norway occupied Northern Greenland in 1931 but was debarred by the International Court, and Norway had to withdraw.

US-Denmark Greenland Defence Agreement

During World War 2, as Nazi Germany invaded France, Belgium and Denmark, the United States occupied Greenland on April 8, 1941, to defend it from possible invasion by German forces. Americans established air bases Blue East at Nuuk, Blue West 1 at Narsarsuaq, and Blue West 2 at Sondre Stormfjord. The US ruled it through the governor. These airports are still active. American troops and Greenlanders jointly took action against German weather stations and intrusions. Keeping in view its strategic location, the United States offered $100 million in 1946, which was firmly declined by Denmark. Subsequently, after negotiations, the US and Denmark signed the Greenland Defence Agreement in 1951, which allowed the US to maintain military bases in Greenland and also allowed NATO to use these bases. The United States developed Thule as a prominent military base and moved the local population away from the place. They converted it into a nuclear weapons launch base under Project Ice Warm and also based B52 strategic bombers. There was a major air crash of a B52 bomber carrying H bombs in 1968. The accident caused the loss of bombs and high radiation.

Russian President Putin said that Greenland’s ownership was not their concern, and both the United States and Denmark should settle the issue between themselves. Russia will not object to any deal. He recalled that Russia sold Alaska to the US for $7.2 billion in 1867, setting a precedent

After the disintegration of the USSR, the US lost interest in Greenland. The project was abandoned. The Danish government was not aware of this project until 1998. In 1953, Greenland’s status as a colony was removed, and it became an integral part of Denmark. The movement of Independence also continued since 1973. After the referendum in 1979. Greenland was given more autonomy in defence and external affairs. Minerals were controlled by Denmark. On June 21, 2009, Greenland achieved self-rule, but defence and foreign affairs remained with Denmark. Canada is the closest neighbour to the southwest of Greenland. There was a dispute on a small island called Hans Island. It was amicably resolved in 2022 as Hans Island was divided equally between Denmark and Canada.

Greenland Has Been on Trump’s Wish List

During Trump’s first tenure, he had Greenland on his wish list, but did not have much support from his own Republicans. During Biden’s presidency, the project was abandoned. As President Trump bounced back with a thumping majority, he renewed his campaign to either purchase Greenland or invade/annex Greenland. All European Union and NATO members are foxed and shocked. Denmark is a member of NATO. Trump had warned eight European countries of heavy tariffs if they opposed his move. There was stiff resistance from major European partners of NATO to Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland and make it a part of the United States, and violent verbal reactions.

French President Emmanuel Macron outrightly termed it ‘unacceptable’, saying threat and intimidation tactics will be challenged. British PM Kier Strammer also criticised the US intentions and tariff threat as insane. Mette Frederiksen, the Danish PM, termed it a ‘blackmail’. President Trump, during his address, reviewed his stand and announced that the 10% tariff proposal is shelved, also committed that there will be no military option or force used. But he was certain that Denmark could not defend Greenland. He would wait and watch.

China says it has no military intentions in the region. NATO chief met with the US President on the sidelines of WEF and agreed on the deployment of US troops in Greenland, and the tariff of 10% has been suspended, but it remains a semiautonomous part of Denmark. Greenland is not for sale so far

EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen told reporters, “We have engaged with the US firmly but non-escalatory. EU Council President Antonio Costa said, “We need to manage our relationship with cordiality and mutual respect.” EU trade deal with the US on Free Trade was also put on hold. The Group of 8 has launched Operation Arctic Endurance and has reinforced Danish forces in Greenland. NATO chief Mark Rutte said that he had spoken to the US President that these EU troops pose no threat to anyone, but are a security exercise for the isolated Arctic. President Trump has assessed the firestorm from European allies of NATO and has postponed his Greenland adventure, but he has made up his mind.

Russia Will Not Object to Any Deal: Putin

Meanwhile, Russian President Putin said that Greenland’s ownership was not their concern, and both the US and Denmark should settle the issue between themselves. Russia will not object to any deal. He recalled that Russia sold Alaska to the US for $7.2 billion in 1867, setting a precedent. The US purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for 25 million gold coins in 1917 to make a strategic naval base in World War 1. Gwadar Port was purchased by Pakistan from Oman. China gave Hong Kong to the UK on a 99-year lease, but now taken it back. The UK and Mauritius signed a deal for the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.

The People’s Republic of China has conveyed that it has no military intentions in the region. NATO chief met with the US President on the sidelines of WEF and agreed on the deployment of US troops in Greenland, and the tariff of 10% has been suspended, but it remains a semiautonomous part of Denmark. Greenland is not for sale so far.