This past week, Greenland made headlines. It’s not surprising; the island is massive—about three times the size of Texas—and sits between North America and Europe. Despite its name, around 80% of it is covered in ice.
The name “Greenland” has an interesting backstory. Erik the Red, a Viking from Iceland, settled there around 985 A.D. When he came back to Iceland, he painted a picture of a beautiful green land to attract settlers. Robert Christian Thomsen, a professor at Aalborg University in Denmark, explains that it was basically a clever marketing move.
Greenland officially became part of Denmark in 1814. So, why does it grab so much attention? One reason is its strategic location. Thomsen points out that the shortest route for a missile flying from Moscow to Washington goes right over the North Pole and Greenland.
Climate change has also made the island more appealing. The melting ice opens up new shipping routes and makes resource extraction easier. Thomsen mentions that the reduced ice cover gives better access to oil, gas, and crucial minerals needed for everything from electric cars to smartphones.
The U.S. has had an interest in Greenland for many years. In the 19th century, there were talks of purchasing the island. While that didn’t happen, the U.S. did acquire the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, in exchange for recognizing Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
During World War II, Greenland’s importance shot up. With Denmark occupied by German forces, American officials felt it was vital to ensure Greenland didn’t fall into enemy hands. Thomsen notes that the Allies used it as a refueling station for bombers.
After the war, in 1951, the U.S. and Denmark solidified military arrangements that allowed America significant freedom to establish bases on the island.
But what about the people? Greenland has a small population of about 57,000. Tillie Martinussen, a native Greenlander and former parliament member, describes her upbringing as safe and community-focused. With nearly 90% of residents of Inuit descent, she believes Greenlandic culture is about caring for one another, contrasting sharply with more individualistic Western societies.
Despite growing up with admiration for the U.S., Martinussen acknowledges some resentment due to the U.S. government’s recent aggressive stance towards Greenland. President Trump’s past comments about potentially purchasing the island raised eyebrows and feelings of betrayal among many locals.
Polls indicate that most Greenlanders don’t desire American ownership. Martinussen reinforces this, stating, “We’ve been allies for 80 years. The sense of betrayal is strong.”
This sentiment has sparked protests, where Greenlanders expressed their discontent with signs reading “Make America Go Away.” It seems that while historical ties to the U.S. run deep, recent developments have altered the perception of that friendship.
For further reading on Greenland’s strategic importance and its impact on international relations, you can check out the Council on Foreign Relations or the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Greenland, Donald Trump, Denmark
