Posted on 08/21/2019 4:56:50 PM PDT by libh8er
The diplomatic row that has erupted between Washington and Copenhagen over Greenland is just one part of a broader strategic battle being waged over control of the Arctic, according to one expert.
US President Donald Trump has cancelled a trip to Denmark and launched a war of words with his Danish counterpart, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, after she rejected his idea of the US buying Greenland as "absurd".
Mikaa Mered, professor of polar geopolitics at Paris' ILERI institute of international relations said Trump's unsolicited advances on the autonomous territory were a way to indicate US interest in the resource-rich Arctic -- and to distract from domestic issues.
- Is the US sending a message? -
Mered said Trump's offer to buy Greenland was a signal to Arctic nations and China, which has shown interest in the region, which is crucial for the control of new shipping routes opening up as ice sheets melt because of global warming.
"When it comes to the Russians, (Trump's) logic is to say: 'You won't always be the main power in the Arctic even if you are the chair of the Arctic Council in 2021'.
"And when it comes to the Chinese, the idea is... 'We won't let you get a foothold in Greenland'," Mered said.
He said the US has already increased its presence by re-establishing a consulate in Greenland's capital Nuuk, and helping to finance new airports, education and social programmes.
"The end goal is not to acquire Greenland per se but at least some new territory, some new pieces of land," he said.
Washington could be angling to buy the Gronnedal naval base in southern Greenland, "which the Danes ultimately decided not to sell in late 2017 because the only interested buyers were Chinese" he added.
- What role does Europe play? -
"It's possible that this whole hullabaloo is a political, media and economic test balloon designed to see how strongly Europeans feel about Greenland," Mered said, predicting the row could drag on.
"He will continue to use the case of Greenland, especially since Denmark is a fairly servile ally that won't turn its back on the US because of this."
- What does Trump stand to gain? -
Mered said the issue allows Trump to "make strides in the Arctic and at home".
"Looking at the presidential election, he has everything to gain by carrying on: he gets the Democrats out of the news at a critical time with the start of campaigning for the primaries and he himself is kicking off a bunch of rallies.
"(In the US), nobody knows where Greenland is, how it's run... There are so many things going on, he can continue to drag this out for several weeks."
He’d be happy to be speaking Russian, so long as it was still the Soviet Union.
Communist China must never be allowed control of Greenland.
Thanks libh8er.
Of course the minerals and strategic location are important too.
Sadly, the writer is right about most Americans these days being geographically challenged, having no idea where Greenland is.
Few are even aware of Canada, our largest trading partner.
perhaps Trump’s concern is Thule AB C_A activity. Obama will straighten Denmark during his Sept. scheduded visit.
Seen Greenland from above many times; almost all snow and ice.
Typical French anti-American “analysis”, esp. since it is Trump who is bringing up a very important strategic issue, namely the Russian and Red Chinese plans to control the Arctic sea lanes and resources.
I don’t think the French even know what an Icebreaker is, unless it is something used to crack ice for their winecoolers.
The way France is going, in the near future they might sell themselves to the U.S. just to stop the Moslem takeover that is going on there. Two can play this “game” of “projection” of policies.
I read on another thread that the PRC Chinese already have 86,000 Chinese working on projects in Greenland. Denmark is openly allowing the Chinese into Greenland. Is it any wonder that China also wants to buy it? President Trump is making noise precisely because of Chinese moves on Greenland. Denmark is not making nice with the USA.
“is crucial for the control of new shipping routes opening up as ice sheets melt because of global warming.”
For F&$%# sakes. They have gone to volume 11 on this for the last few years
This country cannot let the Chicoms take Greenland.
“” “” I read on another thread that the PRC Chinese already have 86,000 Chinese working on projects in Greenland. Denmark is openly allowing the Chinese into Greenland. Is it any wonder that China also wants to buy it? President Trump is making noise precisely because of Chinese moves on Greenland. Denmark is not making nice with the USA. “” “”
Let’s say the integral part of the deal is the will of Denmark and the people of Greenland.
I think both prefer for it to stay Danish.
Seward’s Folly, pt 2
I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future. For our children.-PJ
The Chinese offered up a deal to build a all-year-round airport, which some of the funding was their own money...but the catch to this...Denmark had to allow Chinese labor into Greenland to build it. The US saw the deal in development and put pressure on Denmark to halt the deal.
Kind of hard for the native Greenlanders to retain their ethnic control when they have some 56,000 people but there's 86,000 Chinese workers there. Denmark has given the native islanders (eskimo?) some local control while retaining ownership of the island (and giving them a sort of welfare). The USA governed the island during WWII and would be a better fit for the natives.
I see your point. Would Denmark see it the same way?
All true but I would be interested to ask 100 recent college graduates to locate Greenland on a map without captions.
The US will have to rely on Russian and Chinese heavy ice breakers to keep the channels open.
I don’t think the French even know what an Icebreaker is, unless it is something used to crack ice for their winecoolers.
Since the US has only one (1) heavy ice breaker it is quickly following the French lead
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