Greenland has returned to the global spotlight as President Trump renews his interest in acquiring the northern island during his second term. The ide

Greenland and the Coldest War

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2025-01-10 16:30:04

Greenland has returned to the global spotlight as President Trump renews his interest in acquiring the northern island during his second term. The idea first surfaced publicly in 2019, when the White House floated the possibility of such a move, prompting a firm response from Greenland’s Premier: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.” Despite this unequivocal stance, reports suggest the administration’s ambitions remain undeterred; as I write this, Donald Trump Jr. is visiting the island, to the panic of Denmark’s prime minister.

At first glance, the idea of acquiring Greenland seems outlandish—perhaps even insulting—a relic of imperial ambition that feels incompatible with modern sensibilities. And for what purpose? President Trump’s widely shared image of one of his hotels towering over the island did little to quell concerns about trivial motives.

Yet the reality is far more complex. There is a legitimate and strategic rationale for prioritizing American interests in Greenland, one that aligns with both their national interests and American foreign policy. As Arctic ice thaws, it is revealing a contested geopolitical arena rich in natural resources, critical trade routes, and significant security implications. Greenland has emerged as the focal point of this broader polar contest. America must lead in this frozen expanse, or it will be led.