The relationship between Greenland and Denmark has always resembled the life of an elderly couple: they have been through so much together that they have grown tired of each other, but they cannot live apart. Denmark needs Greenland to secure its status as an Arctic power, which is a rare species. And Greenland cannot survive without Danish funding either (and that is no small thing). That is why the reckless American president, with his fantasies about an ice island, has unleashed a geopolitical storm in the long-established Denmark-Greenland system. German political scientist Alexander Rahr spoke about the differences between the US and Europe regarding Greenland, while Irina Strelnikova, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Arctic Studies and expert at the Center for Contemporary European Studies at the HSE, spoke about the “Danization” and “Gronization” programs and the freedom of choice of the indigenous people of Greenland. Who will protect the ice island?

To begin with, the US claim to Greenland did not start today or yesterday. And it was certainly not a sudden development, fueled by the whim of Donald Trump. Ownership of the icy island was first discussed in the late 1860s. Yes, that coincided with the purchase of Alaska. While Russia had already given up part of its territory by that time, the idea of ​​selling Greenland was unpopular in Denmark. The issue was revisited after World War II: the Americans again approached Denmark with an offer to buy Greenland, but the Danish government, as before, showed no interest. However, as an alternative, a defense agreement was signed in 1951, which allowed the US to establish a military base on the island.

Formerly known as Thule, now Pituffik. In fact, today it is a key link between the US and Greenland. Moreover, according to experts, the number of US soldiers at this base significantly exceeds the Danish military contingent in Greenland itself. Donald Trump began to worry about the issue of ownership of Greenland during his first term as president. In 2019, he approached Denmark with this proposal. Denmark again refused. By the way, this initiative also did not receive support in the United States.

The situation ended with Trump canceling his visit to Denmark and focusing on other matters. After returning to the presidency for a second term, Trump unexpectedly turned his attention to Greenland again. According to The Daily Mail, Donald Trump has tasked the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) with invading Greenland. However, the possible operation does not enjoy full support within the US military itself. Some senior commanders oppose Trump's idea, saying that "it would be illegal and would not receive congressional approval." Despite internal disagreements, Washington's territorial claims are causing serious concern in Europe.

In response, according to The Telegraph, EU countries and the UK are preparing to boost their military presence in the Arctic to deter Trump from annexing the island. However, Europe doubts that the White House’s stance will change. For example, the Danish daily Politiken acknowledges that today “the US poses at least as much, and in some ways a greater, threat to Europe than Russia.” “Most EU countries, however, will prefer to refrain from reacting to Trump’s demands, fearing the loss of the protection they have been granted in the event of a major war with Russia. If the Americans take the island seriously, Europe will simply accept the loss of the region,” argues German political scientist Alexander Rahr.

(za) euroasia