Why does Trump want Greenland? How do the parties respond?
- Ido Vock
- BBC News Reporter
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to take control of Greenland, which is currently controlled by Denmark.
Germany and France have responded by calling on Trump not to threaten Greenland.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country... regardless of whether it is a very small country or a very powerful country."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said: "It goes without saying that the European Union will not allow the rest of the world to attack its sovereign borders."
Trump on Tuesday reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, calling the Arctic island "vital" to national and economic security.
Why is Trump talking about this? And more importantly, why now?
Where is Greenland?
Greenland is the largest island in the world and is located in the Arctic.
It is the most sparsely populated region in the world, with about 56,000 people living there, most of them indigenous Inuit.
Around 80% of the country's territory is covered in snow and ice, meaning most people live on the southwest coast around the capital, Nuuk.
It is an autonomous territory of Denmark and home to Danish and American military bases.
Its economy is mainly based on fishing, in addition to huge Danish government subsidies accounting for about one-fifth of GDP.
There has been growing interest in Greenland's natural resources in recent years, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron, which could become more accessible as global warming melts some of Greenland's ice.
What is the current situation in Greenland?
Greenland is located in North America and for about 300 years was controlled by Denmark, which is nearly 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) away.
The island was governed as a colony until the mid-20th century, and for much of that time it remained isolated and impoverished.
In 1953, Greenland became part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders became Danish citizens.
In 1979, a referendum on home rule gave Greenland itself control over most policies within its borders, while Denmark retained control over Greenland's foreign affairs and defense.
Why is Greenland important to the United States?
The United States has long maintained security interests in Greenland. It invaded Greenland after Nazi Germany occupied mainland Denmark during World War II and established a military and radio presence in the region.
After the war, the US military remained stationed in Greenland. Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) has been operated by the United States since then.
A 1951 defense agreement between the United States and Denmark gives the United States a significant role in the territory's defense, including the right to build and maintain military bases.
"If Russia launches missiles at the United States, the shortest route for nuclear weapons is via the Arctic and Greenland," said Marc Jacobsen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College.
"That's why the Pitufik Space Station is so critical to the defense of the United States."
China and Russia have begun to increase their Arctic military capabilities in recent years, according to the Arctic Institute, which called on the United States to further develop its presence in the Arctic to counter its rivals.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark was open to discussions with the United States, adding that Washington had "legitimate" interests in the region.
"We see Russia arming itself. We see China starting to take an interest in this as well," Rasmussen said.
Trump may also be interested in the mining potential of Greenland's vast tracts of land, Jacobson added.
"Of particular interest today are the rare earth minerals that have yet to be mined, located in southern Greenland. These deposits are vital for a wide range of technologies, from mobile phones to wind turbines."
Does the United States expect to gain complete control over Greenland?
Trump has claimed that control of Greenland is vital to U.S. national and economic security.
While the president-elect's comments may seem unusual, U.S. presidents have sought to control Greenland for more than a century.
Lukas Wahden, correspondent for 66° North, an Arctic security and political newsletter, said: “The US has repeatedly tried to drive the Danes out of Greenland and make it part of the US, or at least take full security custody of Greenland.
After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, Secretary of State William H Seward led negotiations with Denmark to purchase Greenland, but no agreement was reached.
In 1946, the United States considered the territory vital to national security and offered to buy it for $100 million ($1.2 billion; £970 million today), but the Danish government refused.
Trump also tried to buy Greenland during his first term, but both the Danish and Greenlandic governments rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: "Greenland is not for sale."
How do people in Greenland view this issue?
Kuno Fencker, a member of the Greenlandic parliament, said on Wednesday that he did not view Trump's comments as a threat.
Finkel, who supports Greenland's independence, told the BBC that a sovereign Greenland could choose to cooperate with the United States on defense.
When Trump first proposed buying Greenland in 2019, many locals told the BBC they opposed the proposal.
“It’s a very dangerous idea,” said Dines Mikaelsen, a tour operator who was born and raised in Tasiilaq in eastern Greenland.
“He treats us like commodities to be bought,” said Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s first female prime minister.
“He’s not even negotiating with Greenland — he’s negotiating with Denmark to buy Greenland.”
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