Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.
President Trump has started his second term off with a flourish not seen by any other president in my lifetime. Only a true businessman could take over and rapidly make all the changes he has initiated. While most of his actions were anticipated based on election speeches, his comments about Greenland were quite surprising. It does show how wide ranging his thoughts are and his concern to do everything in his power to ensure the security of our nation. Let’s take a look at what is at stake with Greenland; it may surprise you.
Seemingly out of touch with reality, the European discoverers named an ice-covered island Greenland. Actually, when discovered in 985 AD by Erik the Red, the climate in the northern hemisphere was in the midst of a warming period. Consequently, it is certainly probable that the vegetation in southern Greenland at that time was sufficient to warrant that label. Recent glacier melting has exposed numerous tree trunks and other evidence of vegetation that have not been able to grow there in hundreds of years. Recent ice melting bodes well for a future of a more livable climate.
Since Greenland is a part of North America and is in a very strategic location from a U.S. security perspective, efforts have been made to secure access for the U.S. military. In 1951, at the beginning of the Cold War with Russia, then President Harry Truman offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for $100 million dollars in gold. Denmark declined but Truman was able to work out an arrangement where the U.S. could install and operate military bases. As a result, Thule Air Base, still operational by the way, was built and has served as a vital defense base against Russian aggression. In fact, in 2019, President Trump offered to buy Greenland from Denmark, but the offer was not accepted. Greenland is a semi- sovereign country that is closely aligned with Denmark. In 2009, Denmark altered its agreement with the residents of Greenland; allowing them to terminate their dependence on Denmark by passing a referendum to that effect. A recent poll showed that a majority of Greenland’s citizens would welcome closer ties to the United States.
There are several issues that make Greenland important to the U.S. First of all, 40% of Greenland is above the Arctic Circle, giving it a critical location for defenses against Russia and China. The Thule Air Base is 695 miles above the Arctic Circle and 947 miles from the North Pole. Second, it is the largest island in the world; and at 836,000 sq. miles, it is far larger than Alaska, which is 663,000 sq. miles. It contains enormous natural resources such as lithium, uranium, coal, oil, and natural gas. China and Russia would love to get control over these resources, which would greatly shift the balance of power into the hands of communist oligarchs. China’s moves around the world to control natural resources, called the Belt and Road Initiative, must be taken seriously. The melting of the ice around the Arctic is making shipping much more feasible and allowing access to previously difficult areas. Russia currently has a large fleet of diesel- and nuclear-powered ice breakers that can crush ice up to 14 ft. thick. Our most powerful ice breaker, the U.S. Healy, can only manage ice 4 ft. thick.
Recently, the government of Denmark admitted that it is incapable of defending Greenland. It is past time for us to take this threat seriously. At least President Trump is concerned and likely to take needed action. Look at all the money the Biden administration has spent on the USAID (aide to foreign countries) for such nonsense as transgender surgeries, DEI, providing condoms to Hamas, etc. Thankfully, we finally have an adult in charge, so there is hope for the future.