Donald Trump wants ownership and American control over Greenland. But if that wish is to become a reality by buying Greenland, as Trump has previously mentioned, it will be very difficult. However, Miriam Cullen, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Law, where she specialises in international law with a particular focus on Greenland, has stated that this would be a very challenging endeavour.
It would require a hell of a lot of work.
Although Trump has previously offered Denmark to buy Greenland, he has not made a purchase offer this time.
But if the incoming U.S. president again wants to offer to enter into a purchase agreement with Denmark without taking the Greenlanders into account, it is virtually impossible, says Miriam Cullen.
There are several reasons for this.
Although Denmark sold the West Indies to the U.S. in 1917, there are now several rules that make selling Greenland more difficult.
Firstly, it would be seen as a breach of international law if Denmark, without involving the Greenlanders, decided to hand over the island to the United States, explains Miriam Cullen.
In addition, Denmark is subject to special international laws on the protection of the indigenous people of Greenland, which make a transfer without Greenlandic acceptance contrary to international law.
The Greenlandic Self-Government Act from 2009 also makes such a sale more difficult, as it describes that the Greenlanders themselves have the right to decide over their country,she says.
If Denmark decides to say yes to transferring sovereignty over Greenland to the United States without acceptance from Greenland, then a number of states and potentially the UN would oppose it, and Denmark would allegedly be brought before the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague. I assess that this will cause Denmark a lot of legal problems, says Miriam Cullen.
If the Greenlanders themselves decide to do so, however, the matter is different, she explains. But it will still be an incredibly comprehensive affair.
According to her, this would first and foremost require a referendum in Greenland to ensure that the Greenlanders want to be part of the USA.
If the Greenlanders and Greenlandic politicians then want to become part of the USA, and Denmark opposes the Greenlanders' wish, this will also create problems.
If Denmark goes against the Greenlandic people and rejects the Greenlanders' wish, it could be seen as Denmark going against the Greenlandic right to self-determination, which Denmark itself recognizes, she says.
If Denmark, on the other hand, chooses to accept a possible Greenlandic wish to become part of the USA, according to Miriam Cullen, it will require that the Danish constitution be amended, because Greenland is written into it.
In addition, she explains that the USA, Denmark and Greenland must agree on a treaty in which the details of the transfer are determined.
It is certainly not impossible, but it will be extremely complicated. It will deal with taxes, citizenship, immigration, shipping, fishing and countless other relations between the USA, Greenland and Denmark, she says.
Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, has emphasized in a written comment that Greenland is not for sale.
Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom, he writes.
However, we must continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbors, says the Prime Minister.
This was the statement from the incoming US president, Donald Trump, after he pointed to billionaire and businessman Ken Howery as the new ambassador to Denmark on December 22.
When Trump congratulated Howery on his possible new title – which must first be formally approved by the Senate – he also managed to sneak in a few words about Greenland:
For national security and freedom in the world, the United States feels that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,
Trump wrote in a post on his media outlet Truth Social
What is important to note is that Trump does not say who specifically should have this ownership, points out DR's journalist in the US, Malthe Sommerand.
Malthe Sommerand sends 'Morning Post from the USA' on dr.dk every weekday. Photo: Private photo / dr.dk
Over here in the press, it is of course interpreted as meaning that it is the United States that should have ownership. Trump is the future president of the United States, so we should take his statement seriously.
Martin Breum, a journalist and author with a focus on the Arctic and the Danish Empire, agrees:
It's probably not the Christmas present that neither Nuuk nor Mette Frederiksen had hoped for, he tells P1 Morgen and emphasizes:
We must always remember that Greenland is part of North America and lies like a kind of safety helmet on top of the American continent and protects the Americans from Russian missiles - to put it briefly.
Thule Air Base (in Danish often called Thulebasen) is located in northwestern Greenland, close to the city of Qaanaaq. It is manned by the United States and operated by the US Air Force. Photo: Thomas Traasdahl, Ritzau Scanpix
Important military strategic position
In the northern part of Greenland is the American military base Thule Air Base – also known as Thulebasen. It is used, among other things, to protect the Americans from missile attacks using an advanced radar system.
Therefore, Greenland has great military strategic and geopolitical importance for the United States – and especially for the country's future president, Martin Breum states.
Donald Trump believes that the United States needs to secure greater control over Greenland – and in this regard he does not think that the bond that already exists between the United States, Denmark and Greenland is sufficient.
How things will actually play out when Trump sits down at his desk in the White House in the new year, we can only guess at for now.
But according to Martin Breum, Trump's announcement comes now because he has appointed a new ambassador to Denmark, whose main task will be to secure the United States' wishes and interests in Greenland. Ken Howrey himself writes that he looks forward to working together with Copenhagen and Nuuk.
And with that, Greenland once again takes on a central foreign policy role in Denmark.
The Greenlandic self-government and the Danish government are now facing an extremely complicated diplomatic task, Martin Breum assesses.
- The task will be to negotiate with the new ambassador and see if there is a way to handle this desire without jeopardizing the huge Danish and Greenlandic interests in cooperation with the United States.
As you know, this is not the first time that Donald Trump has brought control of Greenland into the spotlight. He also did so during his last term in office in 2019 – and here the reaction from the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was clear: It was an absurd idea. Greenland is not for sale.
But the idea was interesting from a strategic point of view, said Trump:
After the Prime Minister's comment at the time, a very serious dilemma arose between the United States and Denmark. It took six months of diplomatic work to resolve it, says Martin Breum and adds:
Neither Denmark nor Greenland can afford that type of conflict with the American president, especially not often.
There is therefore no reason to take the comment that Trump made last night lightly. Martin Breum does not believe that either the Prime Minister's Office or those responsible in Nuuk do.
Greenlandic member of parliament: 'We are willing to participate in an open dialogue'
But she would like to hear what Trump really means.
Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, who represents the Greenlandic party Siumut in the Folketing, rejects Donald Trump's reborn proposal for ownership - or at least control – over Greenland
Still, she does not slam the door on the Americans.
We are willing to participate in an open dialogue about what President Trump specifically means by his interest in Greenland, she writes in a lengthy written comment to DR Nyheder.
Statements like those from President Trump show an understanding of Greenland's strategic and global importance, writes Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam and adds:
But it is important to emphasize that Greenland is not a commodity or a geostrategic trophy.
We are a people and a country with our own culture, our own language and a clear ambition to shape our future on our own terms, she states.
The same tone is heard from the other Greenlandic member of the Parliament, Aaja Chemnitz.
Greenland is still not for sale. We were not in 2019, and we still are not, she says.
Donald Trump's statement is "not very respectful", believes Aaja Chemnitz from IA. Photo: Liselotte Sabroe, Ritzau Scanpix
We want stronger cooperation with the Americans – one could imagine that in the defense sector, when it comes to education and business development, but we should not be controlled by the Americans, says Aaja Chemnitz.
Not very respectful
The Americans are already making themselves felt as a factor in Greenland to a large extent.
The former Thule base in the northwestern part of the country is, for example, run by the US Air Force, and it was a few years ago that the US, for example, distributed 12.1 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 83 million Danish kroner, to civilian projects in Greenland.
Back in 2020, the then US ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, explained that many nations could see investment opportunities in Greenland due to the opening of new shipping routes and a milder inland climate.
We in Greenland want strong international partnerships – economically, politically and in terms of security – where we have a real voice and actively participate in the decision-making processes that affect our country, our people and the entire Arctic region, writes Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam.
The American commitment is welcome, she believes. However, there is a limit.
We do not want to repeat history by isolating ourselves to a single country, as we have done with Denmark for centuries, writes Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam.
Aaja Chemnitz says it clearly:
A decision on Greenland's future should be up to the Greenlandic people.
She also experiences this as the perception from the Danish side - she noted that this was precisely Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's response when the Americans raised the issue five years ago, and she is happy about that.
Conversely, she is not impressed with Donald Trump's tact – or rather lack thereof.
Greenland has expanded its autonomy – there are a number of areas for which we have a responsibility, and therefore I think it is important that we respect each other if we want cooperation, she says and continues:
I do not think this way of presenting it has been particularly respectful.
Prime Minister: We are not for sale
Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte Egede, is unequivocal in his rejection of the American approach.
Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale, he says in a written comment to DR.
Sources:
Kan Trump overhovedet købe Grønland? Det vil kræve en hulens masse arbejde, siger ekspert / dr.dk
Derfor skal man ikke tage let på Trumps kommentar om ejerskab af Grønland / dr.dk
Grønlandsk folketingsmedlem: 'Vi er villige til at deltage i en åben dialog' / dr.dk
Read more:
Greenland again tells Trump it is not for sale / BBC news
Greenland PM reiterates ‘we are not for sale’ after Trump suggests US ownership / The Guardian
Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal / Apnews
Trump Again Calls to Buy Greenland After Eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal / military.com
Trump wants to buy Greenland again / Tribune
Trump suggests U.S. should take ownership of Greenland / axios
Also read the publication:
Put an End Racism Against Greenlanders in Denmark
