Greenland row

‘Donald Trump positioning for Arctic battle’

The diplomatic row that has erupted between Washington and Copenhagen over Greenland is just one part of a broader strategic battle being waged over control of the Arctic, according to one expert. US President Donald Trump has cancelled a trip to Denmark and launched a war of words with his Danish counterpart, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, after she rejected his idea of the US buying Greenland as "absurd". Mikaa Mered, professor of polar geopolitics at Paris' ILERI institute of international relations said Trump's unsolicited advances on the autonomous territory were a way to indicate US interest in the resource-rich Arctic -- and to distract from domestic issues. Mered said Trump's offer to buy Greenland was a signal to Arctic nations and China, which has shown interest in the region, which is crucial for the control of new shipping routes opening up as ice sheets melt because of global warming. “When it comes to the Russians, (Trump’s) logic is to say: ‘You won’t always be the main power in the Arctic even if you are the chair of the Arctic Council in 2021’. “And when it comes to the Chinese, the idea is... ‘We won’t let you get a foothold in Greenland’,” Mered said. He said the US has already increased its presence by re-establishing a consulate in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, and helping to finance new airports, education and social programmes. “The end goal is not to acquire Greenland per se but at least some new territory, some new pieces of land,” he said.

 

Greenland row

Donald Trump positioning for Arctic battle

The diplomatic row that has erupted between Washington and Copenhagen over Greenland is just one part of a broader strategic battle being waged over control of the Arctic, according to one expert. US President Donald Trump has cancelled a trip to Denmark and launched a war of words with his Danish counterpart, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, after she rejected his idea of the US buying Greenland as absurd. Mikaa Mered, professor of polar geopolitics at Paris ILERI institute of international relations said Trumps unsolicited advances on the autonomous territory were a way to indicate US interest in the resource-rich Arctic -- and to distract from domestic issues. Mered said Trumps offer to buy Greenland was a signal to Arctic nations and China, which has shown interest in the region, which is crucial for the control of new shipping routes opening up as ice sheets melt because of global warming. When it comes to the Russians, (Trumps) logic is to say: You wont always be the main power in the Arctic even if you are the chair of the Arctic Council in 2021. And when it comes to the Chinese, the idea is... We wont let you get a foothold in Greenland, Mered said. He said the US has already increased its presence by re-establishing a consulate in Greenlands capital Nuuk, and helping to finance new airports, education and social programmes. The end goal is not to acquire Greenland per se but at least some new territory, some new pieces of land, he said.