Denmark boosts Greenland's defence after Trump repeats desire for US control

Why do you use the word invasion. He wants to buy it.
Don’t forget the US already have a base there.
Did you protest when China was sniffing around the island?

So a threat to Greenland is a threat to all NATO countries including the UK.
And the USA too.

Utterly absurd of course.

But we have to include the Panama Canal and Canada😮 in this list.

I was talking to a friend about this.

Who does a country (any country) actually belong to?

Its government? Its citizens. The people who actually live there? Landholders?

There are only 56,000 inhabitants of Greenland. My friend suggested the USA could offer them all $1,000,000 each to become American.

What about Canada and Panama.

Of course there is precedence - didn’t the USA buy Alaska from Russia?

petra

Why do you use the word invasion. He wants to buy it.
Don’t forget the US already have a base there.
Did you protest when China was sniffing around the island?

It’s important to note that the U.S. has a longstanding relationship with Greenland, particularly through military bases and strategic interests in the Arctic region.

Trump first expressed a controversial interest in buying Greenland in 2019 when he characterized the interest as a "strategic" move citing Greenland's resources and its location as important to the United States.

During WW2 Churchill famously referred to the need to "wage war, by sea, land, and air" and to fight "on the beaches, on the landing grounds, in the fields, in the streets, and in the hills." Mainly because the language of Hitler was treated as a threat even though it might turn out not to be, the Germans only captured the Channel Islands. It could have been far worse. In many cases the German army just walked into unprepared countries.

History teaches us a great deal. There have always been tensions between those who don't want to believe they are under threat and those who think you should take even the most insane comments from those with power as real and prepare accordingly. If I was Denmark, I would rather be planning for invasion (they have taken the first steps) than wishing nothing would happen and finding Greenland had been annexed.

The only person who could change this is Trump - by watching his language. I'm not sure waiting 'till hell freezes over is a useful pastime.

Just one addition Petra. What I did or didn't say about China is irrelevant. It's not going to affect this situation as I have no power - nor do you.

Oh and of course The Virgin Islands, they got renamed I think - can’t remember what their name was before the sale from Denmark I think?

I reckon if Trump is serious (and who knows?) he probably reckons that he can do a good deal.

I assume that Greenlands citizens will be given a say.

I can imagine what Canadian citizens are saying!!

Lathyrus3

I was talking to a friend about this.

Who does a country (any country) actually belong to?

Its government? Its citizens. The people who actually live there? Landholders?

There are only 56,000 inhabitants of Greenland. My friend suggested the USA could offer them all $1,000,000 each to become American.

Do you think the UK would allow the South Coast to sell itself off to America leaving us without it strategic advantage to us? Greenland is of strategic advantage to Denmark as well as the other NATO countries. Why would they let that happen?

Trump does not want to govern a democracy, he want to own as much of the world as he can. The issue with that is that he will not make the lives of those in the areas he owns any better. He will own them too. That's what happens if you destroy democracy. They will become the equivalent of slaves or serfs.

Did you know that, psychologically it is easier to kill people when troops are not in there own country. I don't think that bodes well for the old, the young or women in general. Umm, now where have people behaved like that before?

But if every citizen of Greenland was in favour of becoming American that would be democracy.

And if NATO stepped in to prevent it - what would that be?

Mind you the inhabitants of Diego Garcia, have a very Unpleasant tale to tell.

Drill baby drill

"Greenland is rich in natural resources, including minerals, oil and gas reserves, renewable energy potential, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, and agriculture. Mineral resources in Greenland include rare earth elements, uranium, iron ore, and gemstones, making it an attractive destination for mining companies."

Shocking idea. No, no, no!

What a pain Trump is, and this is before the inauguration!

Whitewavemark2

Oh and of course The Virgin Islands, they got renamed I think - can’t remember what their name was before the sale from Denmark I think?

The Danish Antilles.

But who did they belong to before the Danes arrived?
St Croix belonged to the French West India Company.

Whitewavemark2

What a pain Trump is, and this is before the inauguration!

You are not kidding. Full scale ahead to Project 2025!

Whitwavemark2, I have been so angry about Trump's insults to Canada. Calling our Prime Minister the governor of Canada, and indeed calling Canada the 51st state. It horrifies me, and, once said in jest; he has picked it up a few more times, enough for it to be all over the media. If you keep saying something, it begins be ingrained in people's mind.

He also states that his country is tired of subsidizing ours, thinking a trade deficit equals funding our economy. He is turning the minds of Americans to think they are pouring money into Canada, when they could just take what the want with a bit of force. It's very frightening.

However, a lot of right-conservative Canadians, especially younger ones, love Trump, and have vocalized joining the States isn't a bad idea. Our political scene is in turmoil at the moment, with Trudeau expected to resign in the new year, with no clear replacement, and Conservatives ranking high in the polls. I'm frightened for our political future in the near future.

Trump pushing for Panama Canal and Greenland is another of his expansion threats. Scary.

So sorry, CanadianGran

I hope your fears are not realised CandaianGran. I love Canada for its uniqueness.

I don’t think he would actually invade but he might try to ‘buy’ Greenland in the way China ‘buys’ half the Pacific region countries. A bit more subtle than Putin with his straight out invasion of Ukraine but the same sort of idea.

nanna8

I don’t think he would actually invade but he might try to ‘buy’ Greenland in the way China ‘buys’ half the Pacific region countries. A bit more subtle than Putin with his straight out invasion of Ukraine but the same sort of idea.

It was quite a revelation to see how much China has increased its presence in the South Pacific (including leasing parts of Australia) when we toured there.

Quite scary. They also have the port of Darwin. Even more scary.

PoliticsNerd

Just one addition Petra. What I did or didn't say about China is irrelevant. It's not going to affect this situation as I have no power - nor do you.

Every situation has a context, both for the subject and the commentator. Your last sentenc above, is strange . It seems to suggest that your original post is irrelevant. Is that what you are saying.

I find Trump's desire to think he can simply buy sovereignity, unnerving. What makes him think that other countries are for sale? What makes him think that its occupants would want to change their nationality and give up their independence to be part of the USA?

Is he attempting to do with money what Putin is trying to do with force in Ukraine? And what will Trump do when all the countries he would like to 'own' say 'Thanks, but no thanks'?