On January 18, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump upended political norms when he elucidated a plan to acquire Greenland and, in turn, make it the fifty-first state. To many, this idea sounded preposterous. President Trump even went as far as to say that the residents of Greenland possessed a desire to become United States citizens.
Greenland is one of the few territories that is under the control of a more powerful nation. Currently a territory of Denmark, Greenland is the largest island in the world; its population, however, is a paltry fifty-seven thousand. The most important part of Greenland, as it stands today, is the vast ice sheet that currently ensconces its land. Only ten percent of the island has been settled due to the colossal tundra that overlays the significant majority of the island. According to various sources,
- “The Greenland Ice Sheet covers about 80 percent of the world’s largest island, stretching across 1.7 million square kilometers (656,000 square miles)—an area about three times the size of Texas (National Snow and Ice Data Center).”
- “The Earth’s crust is elastic, meaning that it changes shape with the redistribution of mass on its surface (Underwood).”
- “Most of the ice is believed to have formed during an ice age from 188,000 to 130,000 years ago. The ice sheet expanded during the final Pleistocene glacial advance until about 24,000 years ago (Raikar).”
This alone has been a core reason for Greenland’s lack of usability in the past. To understand why the distaste of Greenland has subsided, it is imperative to analyze the history, the trade access, the military bases, and the natural resources of Greenland.
History
Greenland was first settled more than four thousand years ago by Canada’s Thule Region inhabitants. The aforementioned settlers varied from the Inuit people who currently inhabit the nation to the Norsemen, the more well-known founders of the land. The Inuit, who comprise ninety percent of the current population, descended from Canada, jumping from island- to island in the Arctic. They are almost entirely direct ancestors from the initial immigration waves of people to the island. The other group credited for the discovery of Greenland is attributed to the Norsemen or Vikings. Erik the Red is said to have found this land after being, “banished from Iceland for manslaughter.” Erik the Red established multiple colonies throughout Greenland on both the west and east sides of the island (“Greenland – People”).
As time progressed, the Norsemen continued to leave their impact on the newly settled island. Son of Erik the Red and one of the founders of North America, Leif Eriksson, was the first missionary in Greenland, bringing Christianity over to the small farming village of only a couple thousand people. As time progressed and the climate in Greenland warmed, the Innuits and the Norsemen battled each other. This led to the slow but complete annihilation of the Norse influence.
Subsequently, Greenland witnessed reinvigorated world involvement for the first time in centuries. The former farming island was rediscovered, this time by the English and Dutch. Denmark and Norway established trading companies and missionary foundations in Nuuk throughout this exchange. This, in turn, resulted in the transition to an island dominated by maritime activity. Because of these interactions, Denmark slowly began to annex Greenland, which was under its control. In 1721, Greenland was officially declared a Danish colony. In 1776, Denmark closed Greenland’s coast to outside trade and contact. It reserved exclusive rights to Greenland, initiating a territorial takeover through economic exploitation of the people and land that would not be dismantled or changed for two hundred years.
Trade Routes
Trade routes are paramount to Greenland’s identity. For this reason, Denmark closely guarded Greenland, protecting it from potential aggrandizement. Being directly North of both Europe and North America, Greenland’s geographic location allows for very advantageous trade routes to both areas. Even sailing north through the Arctic would be more apt because the port is in Greenland. Having an advantageous Arctic location avoids having to sail around Europe or the Pacific Ocean to get to locales such as Russia and East Asia. The maps below visually represent the distance between Greenland, Europe, and North America.
According to The World Economic Forum, “As Arctic ice melts, sea routes will stay navigable for longer periods, which could drastically change international trade and shipping…Control of these routes could bring significant advantages to countries and corporations looking for a competitive edge (LePan).”
Additionally, there has not been historical data depicting signs of this becoming a reality. From 2013-2023, there was a thirty-seven percent increase in the number of unique ships in the area. While that does not account for repeat trips through the Arctic, it does mean that an influx of companies are utilizing the Arctic Passage as a valuable trade asset. During this study, there was even a rise in bulk transport and oil tankers. Both of these are new to Greenland’s utilization.
These are key projections that this would not be useful just for the United States, but worldwide. The use of Greenland for shipping as an effect of the melting ice would significantly reduce the number of days at sea for imports and exports, making this a potential money saver amongst international products. The Arctic Portal states that two shipping routes are currently centered around The Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The potential for a new shipping route in the north would be a major addition for companies and nations around the world. This is especially important when considering that a southern channel is impossible due to Antarctica (“Shipping Routes”).
The only potential downside to a northern shipping route is speculation, as it is unknown how much ice will melt. The more melted ice, the more effective nations can utilize these trade routes to move goods and products. If the ice melt is nominal, there is less of a likelihood that the full potential of a northern trade route will be achieved.
Some predictive analysis of this can be viewed in trying to estimate the amount of ice that will melt in the coming years. The Wright-Ingraham Institute has calculated that about eleven billion tons of ice have been melting in Iceland annually since the early twentieth century. At that rate, “scientists now predict that all of Iceland’s glaciers will be gone by 2200 (“Deglaciation in Iceland: Trends and Consequences”).”
Obviously, for the nation that is Greenland and the rest of the world, it would not be an ideal scenario if an inordinate amount of ice were to melt. Still, if the historical trends continue, Greenland could be effectively utilized for trade.
Lawmakers must predict and maximize the use of land, person, or body. The term “buys low and sells high” aligns with this principle. The same can be said for the reasons why Greenland has become hyper-analyzed for its location. There are currently twenty-four Greenlandic sea ports scattered throughout the coasts of the territory. If shipping routes were to broaden, these ports would become extremely valuable and would add to the need for more ports and jobs.
This would be critical to boosting the United States economy and broaden its horizons. It would allow for a growing population in Greenland, which would help establish a larger foothold in the country, but it would also give the United States a stronger foothold in the world trade atmosphere. The location near Europe and the Middle East would allow for a more efficient and shorter path to the United States, saving everyone valuable time and money. This would boost the American economy by shipping more goods out faster and bringing international products in for cheaper.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book, Greenland’s unemployment rate is just nine percent. Rejuvenating the relatively dormant shipping industry will exponentially increase human and liquid capital. For the aforementioned reasons, Greenland could become a geostrategic and commercial ally of the United States.
Military Bases
Another major factor of Greenland’s advantageous location is the susceptibility of naval bases. The United States currently operates Pituffik Space Force Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base), which is the United States’ northernmost military base. Chief of Space Operations U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman stated, “The United States greatly values the contributions that the Greenlandic people bring to defending the Arctic region and to global security, and that renewed strategic competition in the Arctic can be expected with Russia’s historically significant presence in the region and the People’s Republic of China self-proclaimed near-Arctic power, seeking opportunities to expand its influence (Dillon and Brady).”
This is a major statement from an extremely high-ranking official from the United States military highlighting the significant value of the region. Greenland’s proximity to Russia and China is a major asset to the United States. It allows for a closer location to be able to protect and defend the American people, especially from a naval perspective. This proximity also allows the U.S. to work in closer quarters with these nations, increasing the potential of working together. According to American military personnel stationed at Pituffik Space Force Base, “The mission of the 821st Space Base Group is to enable force protection, space superiority, and scientific research in the Arctic Region for our nation and allies through integrated base support and defense operations. The 821 SBG operates not only the DoD’s northernmost installation but also the world’s northernmost deep-water Seaport and provides a unique platform for arctic training, international scientific research, and environmental programs (“Pituffik SB, Greenland”).”
Pituffik Space Force Base locale, the world’s northernmost point, poses a geostrategic advantage for the United States. Within the last couple of years, the United States government has renovated the base to meet the needs of modern warfighting. Due to the harsh conditions, building deterioration accelerates faster than in other locales. The United States Army Corps of Engineers highlighted this problem by having active military bases in Greenland. They stated, “Arctic construction can be challenging due to severe weather and limited daylight, which requires the use of unique building materials, techniques, and fast-paced construction (Castagna).”
Because of the weather, significant renovations must be undertaken during the summer—twenty-four hours of daylight is commonplace during the summer months. While challenging, these are the difficulties associated with the base’s location. That said, it provides valuable protection and proximity to the United States’ rivals. As the United States regularly conflicts with Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others, the geographic location of Greenland provides a very advantageous post that draws near to these places and allows for quick potential action from an air force and naval perspective. The proximity to these nations from Greenland provides valuable ground for gathering troops and sending out potential attacks or defenses if necessary. The United States is separated by oceans on both sides, which makes it difficult to launch a true attack on a rival nation. Greenland’s location affords it the luxury of being shielded by foreign aggrandizement. As tensions with the aforementioned arise, expansion, or possible addition of military bases would be valuable.
It does not just stop at the United States military that is looking to expand into the arctic and Greenland. The Center for European Policy Analysis has encouraged western nations to further their presence in the Arctic for military cooperation. Erwin states, “CEPA argued that Arctic stability depends on developing deterrence strategies tailored to polar threats (Erwin).” These threats include nations like China and Russia who are also growingly active in the region.
One United States Space Force Officer, Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna, stated, “The Department of Defense has unveiled a new Arctic strategy, underscoring the region’s critical importance to our national security and that of our allies. Maintaining a strong presence and projecting power from the Arctic is paramount; we must fortify it, ensuring that we capitalize on our unique position at the top of the world to safeguard our interests and those of our allies.”
It is impossible to deny that there is an extreme effort across the world to expand its reign in the Arctic, with this most specifically being held in Greenland. Whether that be from the renovation and expansion of military bases in Greenland or the strategic location that Greenland poses in the Arctic, Greenland is growing increasingly valuable to all countries from a military perspective. The Pituffik Space Force Base is one of the most important bases in the United States military and will only continue to grow in value as time progresses.
Natural Resources
The final topic that is vital to discuss is the untapped natural resources in the area. As mentioned earlier, Greenland has only fifty-seven thousand inhabitants. Greenland’s population is comprised mostly of fishermen/whalers and farmers. There are not enough people to invest in harvesting the bountiful natural resources in Greenland.
Perhaps the following question should be posed: Why is investment in the extraction of natural resources not a loadstar of Greenland’s economy? The ice sheet covering Greenland is roughly two miles thick at its center. That, in total, is much work to do to make the resources accessible. No area in the United States has the same level of degree of difficulty in gaining access to resources as Greenland does as a result of the ice sheet.
With the thickness of the ice being a concern, the question becomes, what is the point? In the past decades, Greenland has been liberal in its mining regulations, but this has slowly started to change. Many mines closed down in 2013 and have yet to be replaced. Greenland has attempted to attract independent groups to mine, but they have been unsuccessful because of the land conditions and the cost.
Greenland has several key resources that would be beneficial for the mining industry. This list includes rare Earth metals, oil, gas, and uranium, to name a few. A study from the Harvard Belfort Center stated, “In particular, Greenland has large deposits of rare earth elements (REEs) required for manufacturing batteries, wind and solar technologies, and advanced military equipment. Western countries see Greenland’s mineral resources as an opportunity to reduce their dependence on China, which dominates critical mineral supply chains (Spence and Hanlon).”
China is the world leader in mining rare Earth metals and controlling the market. The ability of Western countries to gain access to Greenland’s mining industry, particularly the United States, would benefit their economies. In his campaign, Donald Trump elucidated the consequentiality of the United States becoming energy independent. In years past, the United States has relied on countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China for resources that are unable to be harvested in the United States. Investing in Greenland’s natural resources would change the fact that the United States currently has underwhelming representation in the energy industry worldwide. Products such as lithium-ion batteries would no longer be unique to China; they could be produced in the United States. Another study from a 2022 Nordic Council of Ministers study cited that all of Greenland that is currently ice-free holds high potential for significant oil and gas deposits, only heightening the potential Greenland could possess economically ((“Report: Large Potential for Critical Minerals in Greenland and the Nordic Countries | Mineral Resources Authority – Naalakkersuisut”).
One of the focus points is not if Greenland can produce energy and resources but when it will. Brookings made a confident report stating, “Eventually, large-scale mining will take place in Greenland (Boersma and Foley).”
It does not appear as if Denmark or Greenland intend to utilize Greenland’s vast resources. It is up to one of the dominant powers in the world today. The obvious two that would try to achieve this would be the United States or China. Both nations are in direct competition over these resources. China already has a near-monopoly on these resources, and mining Greenland would only exacerbate that supremacy. The United States acquisition of mining rights could profoundly alter the future economic outlook and reorient the direction of manufacturing. It has the potential to make the United States a manufacturer in many businesses, especially in the automotive business. It would also boost the capabilities of energy self-dependence in the United States and strengthen its standing as a dominant world power both now and for decades to come.
Conclusion
Greenland is about to enter the precipice of geostrategic importance for the world’s future. This includes everything from trade routes through the Northwest Passage or Transatlantic Sea route to the Pituffik Space Base, as well as the abundant natural resources located below the ice and Earth of the nation. Greenland can change the world. It is on a stage that it has never been on before, and as the world warms and the ice melts, the opportunities for Greenland only grow.
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