Trump's Acquisitive Interest in Greenland and its Geopolitical Implications
The United States of America has chosen Donald John Trump. This choice of the American people has indicated a silent approval for the action plan of Trump, based on which he manoeuvred his election campaign. From now on, the
evolved foreign policy dictates influenced by the deep state of the world’s
most powerful nation will depend solely on the cerebrum of the 47th
President of the United States of America. The word acquisitive interest is
drawn from Plato’s work explaining Human nature, where he depicts acquisitive interest
as one of the three main features that describe a man, man. The macho figure symbolising
social conservatism, Trump emerges as the only alternative for the salvation of
Americans as they see Trump as more than a President, with his well-set agenda of
social re-engineering with his proposed social, political and economic reforms.
While Canada will be the Businessman President’s prime real estate, Greenland will be America’s geo-political asset. The eye on Greenland for Americans is not new, given its geographical proximity in the first place (not sure if Iceland will be an add-on offer). The United States of America intended to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1867, the then Secretary of State William H Seward made public the US’s intention to buy Greenland with Iceland, but the idea did not fetch any tangible result. The idea was renewed for clinching the deal for USD 100 Million in Gold during the Presidency of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman, in 1946, soon after the end of World War II, but owing to other priorities, this idea did not move further. Hence, Trump will keep on saying that this is not something new but has been deeply seated in the psyche of the American people for more than a century.
The MAGA slogan has been amended:
Make Greenland Great Again by Donald John Trump, and as of date, the idea has
seen very little dissent from either the people of Greenland or Denmark with
its measured silence. Many might argue that Donald Trump has reignited the idea
of acquiring Greenland as a President, placing conservatism first. Still, as an
ace businessman, he has two reasons: (1) geopolitical considerations and (2) business interests of the United States of America, for which he considers
he has been elected.
Geopolitical factors
Encircling Canada – With Alaska
already one of the States of the United States of America, acquiring Greenland will
make the US envelope Canada, the most valued Prime Real estate in the eyes of
Donald Trump.
Controlling the sea lane from the
Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean will be the most contested territory in the next
century. The fast-melting ice in the Arctic poles provides mines and mineral
exploration scope. Having a watch post in Greenland would make the United
States establish a safe sea lane from the Arctic to the North Atlantic, a much
easier route to reach
Economic factors
Business Potential - The melting
of snow sheets in Greenland makes it a potential terrain for a never-before exploration
of mines and minerals. The 2023 report published by the European Commission is
an appetising factor in acquiring Greenland as it has stated that the list of
minerals found in Greenland is on the most wanted list of the European Union.
Challenges of Administering Greenland
The geological survey of Denmark
and Greenland reports that the harsh climate gives little or no scope for human
habitation. The territory of Greenland is not mapped, and cartographic initiatives are nearly impossible to take inventory of the terrain, which is the first step for placing administration. The need for icebreaking ships and manpower deployment
may outrun the anticipated profit, which time alone would decide.
Geopolitical Implications
The stake of Canada, encircled by
the US in the west and east, would be a bargaining chip for Donald Trump to
convert Canada into the 51st State of the United States.
Faster Access to the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic Pole.
The stationing of US Armed forces
in Greenland will make the US closer to the Russian Territories eastward.
Final Note
The idea has ignited the debates on territorial sovereignty and the right to self-determination. It is accepted that Canadian culture (if the people of Canada wish to dissolve them into the United States of America) synchronises with the Americans, but not Greenland. As a forerunner of NATO, it is a million-dollar question how the US will take this forward with Denmark, which will be a textbook case in International Affairs for the next century!
(The author immensely thanks his elder friend and a source of knowledge
on current American affairs, Mr. David Hibbeln, a farmer cum scientist residing
in New York. But for the input of Mr. Hibbeln, the author would not have broken
his five-year slumber in writing blog posts)
