Could Donald Trump really buy Greenland? Experts weigh in on cost and possibilities

What's new

President-elect Donald Trump is once again suggesting that the United States buy Greenland, a self-governing territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years. And once again, experts explain why it is not possible for Trump to implement what he considers an “absolute necessity” for America.

“Here we go again,” Malte Humpert, a senior fellow at the Arctic Institute and its founder, told Newsweek on Monday. “This idea remains as ridiculous as it was in 2019.”

Why it matters

Greenland has access to the Arctic, where international competition has emerged in recent years as nations rush to claim the northern territory in hopes of accessing the region's abundant natural resources, such as gold, silver, copper and uranium.

The United States has attempted to acquire Greenland four times in the past, with the most recent attempt coming in 2019, when Trump first raised the idea.

In recent weeks, Trump has also suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix on Sunday. Trump has suggested buying Greenland, an idea he first floated in 2019. President-elect Donald Trump speaks Sunday at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix. Trump has suggested buying Greenland, an idea he first floated in 2019. Which country does Greenland belong to?

Greenland, home to 56,000 people, has been part of Denmark since the 18th century, but gained autonomy in 1979 and has been a self-governing nation since 2009. Yet Denmark contributes two-thirds of Greenland's budget, and its association with the largest island in the world that is not a continent allowed Greenland to receive funding from the European Union.

Although the island is self-governing, it is home to a major US military base.

Besides Trump, Democrats have proposed buying Greenland. President Harry Truman offered to buy it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold.

What you need to know

In announcing Sunday that he had chosen PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “For reasons of national security and freedom around the world, United States of America believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. »

Marc Jacobsen, who researches and advises on Arctic security policy and diplomacy, told Newsweek: “While Trump's rhetoric and choice of words are 'one of a kind,' his Interest in Greenland echoes historic US interest, focused on geostrategic location and mineral wealth.

He continued: “Deteriorating relations with China, Russia and others are currently increasing Greenland's geostrategic importance, while Greenland's vast deposits of rare earth elements are of particular interest due to their potential use in modern technologies.”

Jacobsen, who is also an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, said it was interesting to note Greenland's reactions to Trump's purchase idea. While this had been seen as a “neocolonial provocation” in 2019, this time it was seen as “an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties between Greenland and the United States,” Jacobsen said.

“Following the 2019 idea – and the United States' amplified focus on the Arctic – Greenland has seen an enhanced capacity for action in international politics,” he said. “This is important for Greenland in its efforts towards independence. Today, several Greenlandic politicians say that Greenland is of course not for sale, but that they are very interested in strengthening ties with the United States, particularly in order to improve the Greenlandic economy.”

What did Trump say about Greenland?

In 2019, Trump told reporters: “We are very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark as we protect large parts of the world. So the concept came up and I said, “Certainly, I would be.” Strategically, it's interesting and we would be interested, but we're going to talk to them a little, it's not number 1 on fire, I can tell you that.

“It's basically a big real estate transaction. A lot of things can be done,” he said of a purchase in Greenland.

After his comments were widely criticized by Danish officials, Trump announced he was canceling his planned meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called Trump's suggestion an “absurd discussion.”

What people say

Humpert told Newsweek: “Rather than focusing on grandiose and unrealistic plans to purchase sovereign territories, the new Trump administration should focus on helping the United States strengthen its presence in the Arctic by funding sufficiently the U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaker program and removing barriers to the acquisition of foreign goods. -icebreakers built.”

Howery wrote on . I look forward to working with the dedicated teams at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen and the U.S. Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland to deepen ties between our countries.

Republicans Against Trump posted on already becoming the laughing stock of the world.

What's next

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, responded to Trump’s remarks on Monday by saying: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we never will be. We must not lose our long fight for freedom. »

What did Trump say about the Panama Canal?

In separate remarks earlier in the weekend, Trump called on Panamanian authorities to reduce fees on U.S. ships or risk the United States regaining control of the Panama Canal. The Central American country gained ownership of the canal in 1999 following a treaty signed in 1979.

“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not upheld, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full and without question,” Trump wrote in a series of lengthy Articles from Truth Social. Saturday posts.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded to Trump's comments, saying: “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent areas is part of Panama, and it will continue to be. »

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