Posted on 01/21/2025 9:10:29 AM PST by SeekAndFind
At a hearing in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday to consider Fox News host Pete Hegseth's candidacy for defense secretary, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) asked him a provocative question: whether Hegseth would approve of the use of force to capture Greenland if Donald Trump gives him such an order.
Hegseth responded confidently and professionally: "One of the things that President Trump is so good at is never strategically tipping his hand so I would never in this public forum give one way or another."
Hegseth's response demonstrates that the possibility of the island coming under U.S. control still exists.
The discussion that unfolded in the media on this issue led the Danish government, according to The Wall Street Journal, to open a feedback channel with President Trump to discuss the Greenland issue.
Copenhagen is reportedly ready to hold negotiations with the U.S. government on military and economic deals related to the island but wants them to take place behind closed doors.
At the same time, it is doubtful that President Trump is interested in dialogue. He most likely will not coordinate his foreign policy with Denmark as Denmark seems to be implying, but will begin to implement a set of measures to transfer the island to Washington's control.
There is a window of opportunity for this that the new U.S. administration can (and should) take advantage of.
It is known that Greenland, which is an autonomous entity within Denmark, may secede from the kingdom following a national referendum.
Greenland's current prime minister, Mute Egede, has repeatedly said the island will seek its independence. Locals say they are discriminated against by the Danish government, which neither provides them with equal pay nor gives similar opportunities in education and health care.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
If Trump can acquire Greenland, he will go down as the most consequential US president in at least 100 years.
BE CAREFUL.
Greenlanders, despite the desire to secede from Denmark, are unlikely to gain prosperity without foreign subsidies; half of Greenland’s government budget is financed through a direct subsidy from Copenhagen, amounting to about $500 million a year. Do we really want to subsidize Greenland with our tax dollars?
The main advantage I see with this Huge Island is The U.S. will have access to deposits of minerals, the development of which is at an initial stage due to the need for large investments and the labor intensity of extracting natural resources in a cold climate.
In addition, Greenland’s location will open new trade routes for the U.S. and strengthen Washington’s influence in the Arctic, which President Trump especially needs to do, to put pressure on China and Russia.
But we can have these without making Greenland part of the USA ( like Puerto Rico ).
BE CAREFUL.
Greenlanders, despite the desire to secede from Denmark, are unlikely to gain prosperity without foreign subsidies; half of Greenland’s government budget is financed through a direct subsidy from Copenhagen, amounting to about $500 million a year. Do we really want to subsidize Greenland with our tax dollars?
The main advantage I see with this Huge Island is The U.S. will have access to deposits of minerals, the development of which is at an initial stage due to the need for large investments and the labor intensity of extracting natural resources in a cold climate.
In addition, Greenland’s location will open new trade routes for the U.S. and strengthen Washington’s influence in the Arctic, which President Trump especially needs to do, to put pressure on China and Russia.
But we can have these without making Greenland part of the USA ( like Puerto Rico ).
I read that Denmark would (secretly) be happy to be rid of Greenland. There is a native population (high crime, alcoholism) that they have to subsidize. Even though Denmark is wealthy, it is a small country and it is getting expensive without much return.
RE: There is a native population (high crime, alcoholism) that they have to subsidize.
Precisely! If we acquire Greenland, that problem now becomes OURS.
We already have Puerto Rico to worry about and a humongous budget deficit and debt that exceeds our GDP. I’m not sure if this is a good idea.
I hate government spending, but $.5b per uear for a strategic, resource rich territory or commonweath would be a steal.
The 0% financing and no payments for 12 months deal is only good through end of January!
RE: but $.5b per uear for a strategic, resource rich territory or commonweath would be a steal.
Believe me, it won’t be a mere $500 million a year. It will be billions more.
I have no opinion on acquiring Greenland, although the old real estate argument about “God ain’t making any more of it” rings true.
We often hear people talking about how “mineral rich” Greenland is.
America does not really need Greenland’s rare earths, uranium, copper, etc...
Places like California or Quebec have lots of such minerals - we choose NOT to use them, for stupid, ideological reasons.
How will this be different with Greenland?
And a set of steak knives.
There’s only 56,000 people on the entire place. That’s about the number of homeless in LA. We can easily afford to subsidize them, and the return on investment would be substantial, given Greenland’s strategic position and natural resources.
Ha, in lieu of outright booting them, move the UN to Greenland.
Move the IRS there too.
I guess some conservatives would use any excuse to justify America stealing Greenland.
Compact of Free Association seems to be the answer here. Let’s Greenland maintain self government and some degree of autonomy, while basically being a territory of the U.S. in all but name. We have these in place for the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Put them all in AA.
Not to mention mineral rights with proceeds to be shared.
Yes we absolutely do want to subsidize Greenland. Give them whatever they need and most of what they want. It’s a tiny amount of money for a huge amount of real estate. You only have to look at a map to see what the place is worth.
Some guy who evidently is inside the Trump circle said when Don Jr. visited Greenland, some Greenland officials were brought back to Mar-a-lago on Trump Force One. If so, that’s been a very well-kept secret but sure would be evidence of a deal in progress.
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