Greenland’s leader, Múte Egede, has expressed his readiness to engage in negotiations with President-elect Trump. However, the possibility of the US gaining control of Greenland will not be on the agenda of these discussions.
Instead, the discussions would concentrate on the future of the mineral-rich Arctic territory, with a clear emphasis that Greenland’s citizens have no desire to become part of the United States.
He made the statements at a press conference in Denmark on Friday, which maintains nominal sovereignty over Greenland. He recognized the strategic importance of Greenland to the U.S. and expressed a willingness to discuss areas of mutual interest.
The politician expressed the willingness to engage in conversation with Trump. He said, ‘We are prepared to hold dialogues. Cooperation relies on exchanging ideas and addressing problems together.’
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was also present at the press conference alongside Egede.
Denmark government officials have reportedly kept in touch with Trump’s team prior to his inauguration.
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Greenland, a former Danish colony dating back to the 18th century, gained self-governing status as a Danish territory in 1953.
The island gained the right to declare independence through a public vote in 2009, a decision that Egede wholeheartedly endorses.
We don’t want to be Danish; we don’t want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.
Sparking competition among global powers for influence in a strategically situated region nestled between the United States and Russia. The territory and its surrounding waters are rich in valuable natural resources.
At present, Denmark remains responsible for Greenland’s defense.
The president-elect had proposed acquiring Greenland as an idea during his first term, initially discussing it with his senior advisors in 2019. However, he exited office without taking any steps towards purchasing the territory.
Ahead of his second term, Trump is reconsidering the concept – and Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday with other representatives of the incoming US president.
At the time, former President Trump shared on Truth Social: ‘Don Jr. and my representatives are landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, require safety, security, strength, and peace. This is a deal that must happen. We need to make Greenland great again!’
During the visit, Donald Jr. stopped at a local eatery in Nuuk, Greenland, meeting with community members and putting his father on speakerphone to address the residents directly.
Trump stated, “‘It’s a very special place. It needs security for its own sake, but it also desperately needs security for the world,’ he said during the call.”
Several politicians, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, conveyed a clear stance to Trump: ‘Greenland is not for sale.’
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What would it imply for the United States budget if it were to occur?
Several people argue that the most fitting analogy is to consider the US purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.
Alaska and Greenland share cold, arctic conditions, sparse population numbers, strategic locations, and an abundance of oil reserves.
The United States acquired Alaska, a land area of 586,412 square miles, for $7.2 million. Adjusted for inflation, this expense is equivalent to approximately $153.5 million in today’s currency.
Greenland is roughly 1.5 times the size of Alaska at 1,036,000 square kilometers. So, by increasing the price by 50 percent, the total would be approximately $229.12 million.
In 1946, the US proposed purchasing the Arctic island for $100 million in gold, a sum equivalent to over $1.6 billion today.
Although the dollar values mentioned are relatively large, they do not equal the gross domestic product of Greenland, which was approximately 3.24 billion USD in 2021.
To provide further background, the United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in gold, equivalent to approximately $616.2 million in modern-day currency.
The Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803 cost $15 million, which is equivalent to approximately $418.8 million in current-day values. These historical examples serve as an illustration of the ambiguity surrounding the potential cost of acquiring Greenland, should such a transaction ever come into consideration.
The logistics of such a transaction remain complex. According to the United States Constitution, the U.S. Congress must approve any distribution of funds for land acquisition.
Although a supportive Congress is present, it is uncertain whether they would endorse such a proposal.
Former US President Trump’s expression of interest in purchasing Greenland was met with swift opposition from the leaders of Greenland and Denmark, who deemed it absurd.
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