Why Donald Trump is keeping a military threat against Greenland on the table
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The US is unlikely to invade Greenland, so why does it benefit Donald Trump to keep the threat of military action alive?
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Read time: 3 mins
In brief…
- Donald Trump wants Greenland to become part of the United States, and will not rule out military action to achieve this.
- Emily Maitlis says he is leaving military action on the table to send a message to superpowers he may think also have an interest in Greenland.
- Trump has also threatened Panama with military action, and will exert economic pressure on Canada to force it to become a US state.
What’s the story?
If Donald Trump invades Greenland, it probably wouldn't take too great a military effort to claim the Danish territory.
The two million square mile landmass has a population of around 56,000 people, most of whom are of Inuit descent.
It is not connected to the US, but shares a maritime border with Canada, and Trump says he wants both as new US states – on top of seizing with the Panama Canal, some 5,700km away.
This week, the incoming US president refused to rule out taking military action to claim Greenland – although his preference currently seems to be to buy it.
Trump claims the US needs Greenland for "national security purposes", and has said owning it is an "absolute necessity".
"People really don't even know that Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security," he said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says Greenland belongs to the people of the country, and it will be up to them if they decide to allow their land to be bought by Trump’s America.
Greenland has been considered part of Denmark, in part or fully, since 986, but gained self-rule in 2009. The island has its own language, flag and politics institutions, while montary, defence and foreign affairs are still under Danish control.
Why Trump wants Greenland
Greenland's position makes it a key territory for trade and export, and its location makes it a prime spot for shipping across the Atlantic.
Perhaps more pressing for Trump, are the mineral resources Greenland holds. It contains minerals needed for making key products such as electric cars and wind turbines, as well as making military equipment.
These have not been mined due to environmental concerns – something Donald Trump is not especially concerned about.
These resources are more abundant in China, and Trump has been repeatedly vocal about his goals to tackle the threat he perceives from its international success.
What’s The News Agents take?
Donald Trump doesn’t become US president until 20 January 2025, but Emily says it already feels like he’s started in the role.
She says his comments about Greenland (and Panama and Canada) are a reminder of what the first Trump presidency was like, and what the next four years will be like for anyone following US politics.
“Trump doesn't say that he's about to invade, but he wants to leave military action on the table,” she says.
“He wants to frighten people. It’s the equivalent of putting a small boy on a coat-peg and leaving him dangling for a little bit whilst you frisk his pockets for lunch money.
“He may be trying to send a message there, to China, to Russia, to superpowers, about getting their own hands off territory that he thinks they're interested in.”
She adds that the real task with Trump is working out which of his statements are idle threats, and which are actions he plans to take.
“Is this sabre-rattling of China? Is it about his ‘strong man’ thing, or is it just that he likes the sound of weird words, which to many of his supporters, are still making sense.”
He has ruled out military action against Canada to force it to become part of the United States, saying he will instead use economic pressure to achieve this goal.
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