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Trump’s Arctic Policy Is No Folly
American Thinker ^ | 7 Jan, 2025 | Janet Levy

Posted on 01/07/2025 4:20:49 AM PST by MtnClimber

He understands that America must thwart Russian and Chinese hegemony in the region.

On Sunday, December 22, President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his desire for America to take control of Greenland, saying it is an “absolute necessity.” The very next day, Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, said the autonomous island, part of the Danish kingdom, was not for sale. But Trump’s plan—like that of William H. Seward, who, as secretary of state, oversaw the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867—is not without tremendous geopolitical advantage to America.

It’s all about gaining greater American control over the Arctic, where Russia and China are cooperating to build a strong presence. Fears that such cooperation will extend to include North Korea and Iran are not unfounded. Many pundits believe that Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran have aligned themselves into a new Axis of Evil. According to Merrill Matthews of the Institute for Policy Innovation, they are in “expansionist mode,” seeking “much more land and power” and “coordinating their efforts to benefit each country’s goals.”

However, the immediate worries for America are from the Sino-Russian efforts, which have significantly expanded over the past decade. China’s northernmost point is 13 degrees of latitude from the Arctic Circle—that’s 1,443 km or roughly 900 miles. Yet, in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping audaciously proclaimed China a “near-Arctic state,” launched an “Arctic strategy,” and resolved to make his country a “polar power.”

Cut to 2024. In July, four Chinese and Russian strategic bombers, all taking off for the first time from an airbase in northeast Russia, flew over the Chukchi and Bering Seas. In October, Chinese and Russian coast guard fleets conducted their first joint patrol of the Arctic. These forays followed joint naval exercises in the Bering Strait in 2022 and 2023.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: arctic; axisofevil; china; greenland; russianbombers

1 posted on 01/07/2025 4:20:49 AM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

Russia has a new fleet of large icebreakers to keep arctic shipping lanes open.


2 posted on 01/07/2025 4:21:10 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

“Russia has a new fleet of large icebreakers to keep arctic shipping lanes open.”

And NUCLEAR POWERED - they don’t mess around or let our Leftists have any say in what they consider to be their critical needs.


3 posted on 01/07/2025 4:49:40 AM PST by BobL
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To: MtnClimber
"...China has also found a firm foothold in Greenland. The island clamors for independence from Denmark, and its cash-strapped autonomous government has welcomed Chinese investment, chiefly in ice-breaking and mining rare earth elements. In 2023, Chinese investment in Greenland stood at $264.5 billion..."

I know...we are seemingly (with only a slight exaggeration) sending this amount each month or two to a black pit, in which we have zero strategic interest (Ukraine) yet we find this is how much the ChiComs have invested in beyond "icebreaking" and "rare earth elements"?

I wonder where that number came from, and how it is being "invested".

4 posted on 01/07/2025 4:57:13 AM PST by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: MtnClimber

BTTT


5 posted on 01/07/2025 4:58:33 AM PST by nopardons
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To: rlmorel

So, China is already in the process of “buying” Greenland, Trump merely wants to get in on the bidding.

Isn’t this “investment” by China how the CCP gained such a foothold in elsewhere in Asia and Africa? China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative investments may usher in a new era of trade and growth for economies in Asia and beyond. But skeptics worry that China is laying a debt trap for borrowing governments.

The skepticism is fully justified.


6 posted on 01/07/2025 5:08:10 AM PST by alloysteel (This is yet another test. There are no right or wrong answers, only the correct response for you.)
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To: alloysteel
"...But skeptics worry that China is laying a debt trap for borrowing governments..."

Gee. Not like there aren't a multitude of examples of this already. But I suppose it is no different than the tourists who go to New York City and are snookered by the Shell Game.

After all, they never seem to see anyone who gets taken by it before it happens to them!

7 posted on 01/07/2025 5:10:45 AM PST by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: alloysteel

A lot of people look at Trump’s statements (you sound like one) and knowing his style of negotiation say that is just his way of starting negotiations. Fine with me!


8 posted on 01/07/2025 5:13:18 AM PST by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: alloysteel
Timely article bearing on this today at American Thinker:

LINK: Chinese Footprints in a Moroccan Seaport

9 posted on 01/07/2025 5:18:57 AM PST by rlmorel ("A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims...but accomplices." George Orwell)
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To: rlmorel

China has a problem. It has no money to act in Greenland anymore.

The various China initiatives all over have been repudiated and nations just ceased paying the bill to China.


10 posted on 01/07/2025 5:25:18 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: MtnClimber

“Mute Egede, said”

Impossible!


11 posted on 01/07/2025 6:12:19 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (muslims ARE INBRED IGNORAMUSES. See my "About" page for proof.)
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To: MtnClimber
"It’s all about gaining greater American control over the Arctic, where Russia and China are cooperating to build a strong presence."

Exactly.

This is the fear:

If the USA does not take control of Greenland, China and/or Russia will.

The same is true of Canada.


12 posted on 01/07/2025 7:05:10 AM PST by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: MtnClimber
Few powerful people are as visionary and intelligent as Trump.

"in 1951, a treaty with Denmark allowed America exclusive jurisdiction over defense areas in Greenland."

"it remains vital to the security of America, its NATO allies, and the West."

Perhaps Trump can employ his brilliant intelligence to explain its importance to the leaders of Denmark and Greenland.

"As Walter Berbrick of the U.S. Naval Institute says, 'Whoever holds Greenland will hold the Arctic….it’s the most important strategic place in the Arctic – perhaps the world.'”

"Arctic security concerns have heightened as China and Russia team up."

"Denmark is equally alarmed, and is increasing defense spending for Greenland."

Perhaps when the Danes and the Greenlanders understand what's at stake, they will cooperate with Trump.

Expect nothing but disruption from the US left and the Democrat Party.

13 posted on 01/07/2025 7:21:31 AM PST by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: MtnClimber

Russia has a feet of dozens of ice breakers - the newest ones are all heavy breakers powered by twin nuclear reactors and can cruise through 9 feet of ice at speed. Some are armed. All the new nuclear ones include sauna, heated pools, squash courts, and food that approaches 5 star cuisine. One or more of them carries passengers as well.

The US has one (1) moth-eaten heavy breaker that was built in 1979, held together with bailing wire, duct tape, and spit.

3 new ones are in the works, but are turning out to be jacks-of-all-trades versions - required to also make open ocean voyages to the Antarctic, which means a compromised hull design. They are several years behind in construction due to changing requirements. Only one of the 3 has a completion date.

Finland could churn out as many state-of-the-art heavy ice breakers quickly and cheaply as we require - but the MAGA ethos dooms that avenue. So we are stuck with ships that are over-budget, have compromised hulls, and are not competitive with any new, and many old, Russian breakers of any design.


14 posted on 01/07/2025 8:31:28 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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