By Liu Dan
On the evening of his inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the White House and once again emphasized the necessity for the US to acquire Greenland. He stated that controlling the island is essential to ensuring international security and expressed optimism about future cooperation with Denmark. The very next day, on January 21, the Prime Minister of the Greenland Self-Government reiterated a clear stance, emphasizing that the people of Greenland do not wish to become Americans and acknowledging that Greenland is currently facing a difficult situation. In fact, the US had already proposed purchasing Greenland as early as the 19th century. So why does the US remain so fixated on the world's largest island after over a century?
Observers generally believe that one of the main reasons behind the persistent interest of the US in Greenland lies in its abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, and rare earth minerals, which are critical for renewable energy, traditional energy industries, and military manufacturing. Meanwhile, the glacial melt caused by climate change could make year-round navigation through Arctic shipping routes possible, offering new maritime pathways for global shipping. For instance, compared to traditional routes passing through the Suez Canal, the Northeast Passage along Russia's northern coastline can reduce shipping distances by 30% to 40%. Greenland, situated at a critical juncture of these Arctic shipping routes, holds significant strategic importance in this context. Moreover, the deep-sea and fishery resources in the Arctic are another driving factor. With global warming, the delimitation of the Arctic's extended continental shelf has become a significant representation of the interests of Arctic countries and is closely tied to the future reshuffling of international seabed resource allocation. The US clearly does not want to miss out on such potential opportunities.
Another crucial aspect is the renewed strategic importance of the GIUK gap due to escalating geopolitical conflicts, accelerated climate change, and advancements in emerging technologies. Greenland is a key component of this gap, which was regarded as a strategic chokepoint during WWII and the Cold War between the US and the former Soviet Union. During WWII, the US placed significant importance on Greenland's strategic position. Following the acquisition offer made by then US Secretary of State William Henry Seward in 1867, the Truman administration again attempted to purchase the island in 1946 but was rejected by Denmark. At the onset of the Cold War, the Thule Air Base of Greenland became a critical anchor for the US Arctic strategy. After the Cold War, the US significantly reduced its military presence in Greenland, but the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest of the island continued to house an early warning radar station. In recent years, as the relations between NATO and Russia have deteriorated and tensions in the Arctic have escalated, the US has gradually expanded its military footprint in Greenland.
However, many locals in Greenland believe they have not reaped sufficient benefits from US activities on the island. The Joint Committee, established in 2004 under the Igaliku Agreement to promote cooperation among Greenland, Denmark, and the US in areas such as healthcare, science, education, trade, and tourism, has achieved limited tangible results. Whether to pursue a more equal relationship with Denmark, further intensify resource development, or "become Americans," it is believed that the people of Greenland will make their own rational choice.
(The author is an associate researcher at Koguan School of Law, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.)
Editor's Note: Originally published on opinion.huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
