Who owns Greenland? Trump’s proposal to buy the Arctic island.
President-elect Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has intensified less than two weeks before his inauguration. Meanwhile, his son, Donald Trump Jr., is currently visiting the Arctic island.
Trump Jr. arrived in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Tuesday for a private visit, as his father continues to express enthusiasm for the resource-rich territory.
The president-elect’s aspirations to take control of Greenland coincide with his expressed interest in the Panama Canal and his repeated references to Canada as “the 51st state.”
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said: “Don Jr. and my representatives are landing in Greenland. The welcome was wonderful. They and the free world need safety, security, strength and PEACE! This is a deal that needs to be made. MAGA. LET’S MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN! »
Here are the key details to consider.
Who owns Greenland?
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has seen a growing independence movement, as reported by Reuters. On January 3, Prime Minister Mute Egede of Greenland expressed his aspiration for the territory to gain independence from Denmark.
However, as Greenland remains a territory of Denmark, any hypothetical acquisition by the Trump administration would require approval from the Danish government. On Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated unequivocally that Greenland was not available for purchase.
In a television interview, Frederiksen emphasized that there is significant support among the Greenlandic population for the idea that Greenland is not for sale and will not be for sale in the future.
Trump is not the first US president to want to buy Greenland
Trump is not the first president to express interest in acquiring the Arctic island. The first documented case of a U.S. president seeking to purchase the island was in 1867, when President Andrew Johnson acquired Alaska.
After acquiring Alaska from the Russian Empire, Johnson’s administration explored the possibility of purchasing Greenland and Iceland for $5.5 million in gold, as reported in the Journal of American History .
More than fifty years later, in 1910, the American ambassador to Denmark, Maurice Francis Egan, proposed a trade involving two Philippine islands in exchange for Greenland, at a time when the Philippines was under American governance.
In 1946, President Harry Truman attempted to negotiate the purchase of the island from Denmark for $100 million in gold bullion, claiming the island was a “military necessity,” according to NPR.
Is Trump looking to take over more than just Greenland?
Trump recently attracted attention by not ruling out the possibility of using the US military to secure both Greenland and the Panama Canal.
“I can’t guarantee either option. However, I can say that we need it for our economic security. The Panama Canal was built for military purposes,” Trump said at a press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago residence. in Florida.
In addition to his interest in Greenland, Trump has also expressed his desire to regain control of the Panama Canal, under Panamanian administration since 1999, following a deal facilitated by the late President Jimmy Carter more than two decades ago.
Additionally, Canada has attracted the attention of the president-elect, as Trump has proposed that Canada become the 51st state of the United States.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st state. The United States can no longer endure the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this and resigned. If Canada merged with the United States, there would be no tariffs, taxes would go down significantly, and they would be COMPLETELY SAFE from the threat of Russian and Chinese ships constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great nation it would be!!! ” Trump said in a social media post.
Despite Donald Trump’s continued interest in acquiring Greenland, his efforts face strong opposition from Denmark and the Greenlandic population, who have made it clear that the island is not for sale. Repeated attempts by U.S. presidents to purchase Greenland highlight a long-standing desire for control over the resource-rich territory, but such proposals increasingly appear unrealistic and disconnected from modern international relations.
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Additionally, Trump’s broader ambitions, such as regaining control of the Panama Canal and integrating Canada into the United States, risk alienating global allies and could undermine the United States’ diplomatic standing on the international stage.