Why Donald Trump wants Greenland to become part of the USA

Why is the huge Arctic island important to the US? When was the last time the US purchased territory and what efforts did it make to acquire Greenland in the past? We explain it in three points.

1. 01
   

   Why is Greenland important to the US?

   Broadly speaking, there are three reasons related to geostrategy and geography.

   Greenland was once a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark. It lies in the North Atlantic, between Europe and North America, across Baffin Bay from Canada. Its strategic importance increased during the Cold War and the US has a large air base there, Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base. From Greenland, the US can monitor and prevent any missiles coming their way from Russia, China or even North Korea. It can also more easily launch rockets and ships towards Asia or Europe from Greenland.

   Second, Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, which are used in cell phones, electric vehicles and other consumer electronics, as well as bombs and other weapons. Currently, China is a major supplier of these minerals. In 2021, Greenland passed a law banning uranium mining.

   Third, as global warming leads to melting ice, new waterways may emerge in the Arctic, and all major powers are interested in increasing their presence here. The US would want to forestall a larger role for Russia or China in Greenland and its neighborhood.

2. 02
   

   When was the last time the US tried to conquer Greenland?

   Trump proposed purchasing Greenland during his final term in office, describing his proposal as a “big real estate deal.” When Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea absurd, Trump canceled a planned visit to Denmark.

   Before that, in 1946, shortly after the end of the Second World War, President Harry S. Truman offered $100 million to Denmark for Greenland. Truman had previously considered trading some parts of Alaska for certain parts of Greenland. The proposal did not progress.

   In 1867, the U.S. State Department indicated that Greenland was ideal for acquisition due to its strategic location and rich natural resources. However, no formal effort has been made to pursue the proposal.

3. 03
   

   And when did the USA buy territories before?

   One famous Example is the purchase of Alaskawhich the Russian Empire transferred to the United States for $7.2 million in 1867, when Andrew Johnson was president. The purchase added approximately 1.5 million square kilometers of land to the United States. In 1959, the modern state of Alaska was founded.

   Previously, in 1803, the United States purchased more than 2 million square kilometers of land from France in the so-called Louisiana Purchase. The takeover of Louisiana occurred when Thomas Jefferson was president, and the U.S. paid $15 million for the deal.

   In 1917, the United States purchased the Danish West Indies, a group of islands in the Caribbean, and named them the U.S. Virgin Islands.