Due to his threats to buy her, “To Step” he talked to Mark Jacobsen, Assistant Professor at her Royal Defense College, specialist in Greenland and Arctic diplomacy, author of the book entitled “Greenland in Arctic Security” (2024).
Why has Trump acquired a kind of obsession with Greenland?
“For three reasons. The first is its geostrategic position. In Greenland there is a US air base, which has been renamed a Pitoufik space base, which is very important for US security from a possible Russian missile attack. The second reason is metal deposits in the southern part of Greenland, useful for the production of high -tech products and weapons.
The third reason is Trump’s huge “I”, impressed with the huge size of Greenland. The idea of increasing US territory is very attractive to Trump, wants to acquire Canada and Panama’s canal. It is a dangerous rhetoric, equivalent to Russian President Putin for Ukraine and Chinese President Xi for Taiwan. “
How does Denmark react to Trump and this rhetoric?
“Denmark Prime Minister Metheer Fredericksen visited Berlin, Paris and Brussels on Tuesday to boost EU support in Denmark and convince European leaders that this is not an issue between Dania and the US, but Between the EU and the US. Against Trump, Denmark, as a member of the EU, is much stronger than on its own. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European products, with a kind of trade war, from which Denmark is not excluded. “
Should Trump move on to trade war, Denmark and the EU have a way to put pressure on the US?
“Yes, Denmark and the EU can hit the US economy as well as vice versa, because Denmark and the EU import many American products. But it is not, I think, in the interest of either sides to move on to such a war. “
Do you think Trump will continue with threats to Greenland? In his first term he had re -informed the issue but did not continue. What changed now in his second term?
“The difference now is that he is not anxious to re -elected so he believes he has greater rooms for action. And he is also surrounded exclusively by people who agree with him. In 2019, Trump was pleased with the then Danish initiative to increase Greenland’s military reinforcement. Last Monday, the Danish government announced a new package of military reinforcement of Greenland and Arctic two billion euros, huge in relation to Danish GDP.
This may satisfy Trump. There is, however, the possibility that all this case may be enrolled in Trump’s communication strategy because it wants to turn the interest of international media into something else, and not to something serious that is probably the case in the US. In the coming weeks it may be proven that all this case of Greenland’s “market” was just a communication trick. Remember that Trump is primarily a businessman and his communication strategy is transactions and bazaars. “
In 2025 can a country buy legally territories of another? In 1868 the US bought Alaska from Russia.
“There are recent cases of states that bought territories of other countries, such as Saudi Arabia. But this is not the case in the Western world, we are not in the 19th century. Western countries do not buy territories of Western countries that are their close allies. ”
Greenland belongs to Denmark, but it is under semi -rulers. Will Copenhagen accept the independence of Greenland?
“Since 2009 Greenland has its own government and if it wants to become independent, Denmark will not prevent it. Today’s Social Democratic Government, as well as most parties in Denmark, recognize Greenland’s right to become independent. In 1985, Greenland left the EU, but today most of its inhabitants are in favor of their reintegration into the EU.
In March 2024, Commission President Ursula von der Laene inaugurated the EU’s office in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and signed a co -operation agreements of 94m euros, boosting the EU’s presence there. Greenland is still financially dependent on Denmark. If it takes advantage of the increased American interest, it will do so in order to attract more investment. “
