Trump Claims US Control and Ownership of Greenland is Essential

December 23, 2024 TruthUSA

The United States previously attempted to acquire Greenland, making offers first in 1867 and then again in 1946.

On December 22, President-elect Donald Trump stated that U.S. control over Greenland is “an absolute necessity” for maintaining “national security and freedom around the globe.”

This statement coincided with his nomination of PayPal co-founder and former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Ken Howery as the new U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Trump praised Howery for his leadership in boosting defense, security, and economic collaboration between the U.S. and Sweden, asserting he would be an excellent representative for American interests in Denmark.

The Epoch Times has contacted Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Greenland for their response.

During his first term, Trump showed interest in acquiring the strategically significant, resource-laden island, which operates as an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, facing ongoing financial difficulties.

“It’s basically a significant real estate transaction. There are numerous opportunities. Denmark is incurring a loss of nearly $700 million annually by supporting it,” Trump said at the time. “This arrangement is costing them greatly, and strategically, acquiring it would be beneficial for the United States. We are a strong ally of Denmark, providing support and protection.”

The U.S. has previously offered to purchase Greenland, first in 1867 and then again in 1946 under President Harry Truman. Both offers were declined by Denmark.

“Greenland is abundant with valuable resources, including minerals, pristine water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy, and is an emerging hub for adventure tourism,” the Department of Foreign Affairs in Greenland informed Trump in 2019. “We are open for business, not for sale.”

Covering about a quarter of the landmass of the U.S., Greenland has a small population of around 57,000 and a $3.24 billion economy, according to 2021 estimates by the Central Intelligence Agency. Its economy largely relies on fish, shrimp, and subsidies from Copenhagen.

The former Danish territory is strategically positioned about halfway along the quickest route connecting Europe and Russia to North America. It depends on Denmark for defense, lacking its own military forces to monitor its 27,000 miles of coastline.

Denmark and the U.S. committed to a shared defense of Greenland under the 1951 Defense Agreement, which granted Washington exclusive authority over defense operations in Greenland, enabling enhanced surveillance of Arctic waters, essential to NATO’s Arctic strategy.

The Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is currently located in remote northwest Greenland. This facility supports personnel from Denmark, Canada, Greenland, and the U.S. Space Force, as well as various space surveillance activities. Additionally, it houses an Upgraded Early Warning Radar system crucial for monitoring intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches from areas like Russia, the Middle East, or even North Korea and China if their missiles cross the Arctic.

In recent years, a growing independence movement in Greenland has been advocating for the establishment of the island as its own sovereign entity, moving away from the Danish monarchy, though many believe such a transition wouldn’t be feasible without Danish financial support, covering over half of its public budget. A draft constitution was released in June 2023. Independence would be determined through a referendum in Greenland and subsequent approval from the Danish Parliament, which is set for elections in April 2025.

Over the past decade, initiatives aimed at diversifying the local economy and enhancing mineral mining, oil exploration, and tourism have rendered Greenland increasingly dependent on China.

Reports from Chinese state media indicate that Beijing regards Greenland as a crucial component of its Arctic ambitions, owing to the island’s proximity to vital Arctic shipping routes and its rich mineral resources, such as uranium and rare earth materials.

In 2019, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) expressed its ambitions for a “Polar Silk Road,” intending to extend its Belt and Road initiative, seeking to establish more shipping pathways through the Arctic and incentivizing Chinese enterprises to build infrastructure in the region.

Chinese state outlets have published articles encouraging investment in Greenland to assist the island in achieving its “desire” for independence, as China has made substantial attempts to establish a foothold, although many of its initiatives—often associated with national security concerns, such as bids for Greenland’s mining operations, purchasing an abandoned naval base in Kangilinnguit, and efforts from Chinese state-owned companies to finance Greenland’s airports—have been turned down.

The CCP has also successfully promoted Chinese cultural activities in Greenland, projecting the perspectives of the Chinese communist regime abroad. In 2023, Greenland opened a representative office in Beijing, with Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt stating, “Greenland is eager to enhance trade relations and diplomatic engagement with China,” seeking access to the Chinese market. The opening was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump Announces Further Appointments

President-elect Donald Trump rings the opening bell on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, on Dec. 12, 2024. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) — President-elect Donald Trump rings the opening bell on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, on Dec. 12, 2024. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

On Sunday, Trump announced multiple appointments to his upcoming administration.

He nominated Callista Gingrich, spouse of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), as the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland; Stephen Alexander Vaden for deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture; and Scott Kupor as director of the Office of Personnel Management, pending Senate confirmations.

Mauricio Claver-Carone was designated as the special envoy for Latin America with the State Department, a crucial role for restoring order at U.S. borders, according to Trump.

Joining White House A.I. & Crypto Czar David Sacks is former Trump administration and Pentagon official Michael J.K. Kratsios, who will serve as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and assistant to the president for science and technology.

He will be accompanied by Lynne Parker, taking on the role of executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology and counselor to the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to provide guidance on matters such as artificial intelligence.

Trump appointed Bo Hines as executive director of the “Crypto Council,” the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, aimed at fostering innovation and growth in the digital asset sector, ensuring industry leaders are equipped with necessary resources for success.

Their objective is to “develop an atmosphere where this sector can thrive and remain pivotal in our nation’s technological progress,” Trump stated.

In the technology domain, Trump also appointed Sriram Krishnan as senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining American leadership in A.I.

His appointees are expected to “unlock scientific advancements, secure America’s technological supremacy, and usher in a Golden Age of American Innovation,” Trump asserted.

President Donald Trump's White House senior adviser Stephen Miller (L) and Katie Waldman, press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, arrive at the White House, on Sept. 20, 2019. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) — President Donald Trump’s White House senior adviser Stephen Miller (L) and Katie Waldman, press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence, arrive at the White House, on Sept. 20, 2019. Patrick Semansky/AP Photo

Katie Miller, former press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence, has also been chosen to join Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency, a casual advisory body that Trump asserts will help his administration “eliminate unnecessary regulations, trim wasteful spending, and reorganize Federal Agencies.”

Katie Miller is married to Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Trump Announces Further Appointments

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