According to reports, Donald Trump who was sworn into office on Monday first indicated a plan to buy Greenland from Denmark when he was previously in office in 2019.
Reportedly, Múte Egede, Greenland’s prime minister since 2021 who was part of work on a constitution for an independent Greenland has said that Greenland is committed to nato membership but does not want to be part of the u.s. Historically, from 1711 Greenland became the subject of danish/norwegian colonialism beginning with a missionary expedition following the reformation. Reportedly, the expedition was headed by Hans Egarde, a lutheran minister, and Greenland remained a danish colony until 1953 when it was reidentified as an overseas county and an integral part of Denmark. In 1814 there was war with Sweden who fighting on behalf of Britain were promised Norway. The Denmark Norway union was dissolved.
According to reports, Greenland has had some autonomy for internal affairs since 1979 though the Parliament of Denmark has full control of external policies, security, policing and Greenland’s natural resources. Reportedly, Greenland has substantial amounts of rare earth elements, crucial in making submarines, fighter jets and tanks. According to reports, the u.s. stockpile of modern weaponry is diminishing due to war in Ukraine, and China who currently represent 90% of rare earth extractions have banned selling to the u.s.
Reportedly, Greenland has a vast mineral wealth and is at the centre of a modernday gold rush. According to the report the world’s largest island’s immense land mass has been covered in ice, though climate warming opens up new opportunities for mining. Reportedly, Greenland holds substantial reserves of lithium, needed to make batteries, topically electric vehicles. According to reports, there are also opportunities for oil extraction, especially in the north eastern basin of Danmarkshavn which some years has been impossible to access; and the southern town of Narsaq holds a substantial amount of uranium.
Reportedly, Denmark subsidises Greenland to the amount of 512 million euro per year. According to a report, danish subsidies are needed to buy danish goods and pay danes who do skilled work. Reportedly, Denmark has contacted Donald Trump’s team relaying a willingness to discuss Greenland with regard to an increased military presence without claiming it for their own, but the majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark. Mental health issues are a problem, as is alcoholism and substance abuse. According to a report, the suicide rate among Greenlanders is 6 times higher than in Denmark.