In 2019, in his first term, the US President Mr Donald Trump had floated the balloon about purchasing Greenland island from Denmark. Nevertheless, in his second term he ratcheted his intention to annex the island. The island he said was critical for the US security. This 21.6 lakh square kilometre icy landmass happens to be the largest island in the world. It has a coastline of 27000 miles ,greater than the circumference of the equator. While geographically massive it has a population of merely 58000, about a third of which is concentrated in the Nuuk, the capital. The bulk of the remaining population lives on the western coast. Denmark is responsible for its defence but given the huge territory, and limited military means, it has to look beyond its shoulder to fulfill its responsibility. It's strategic importance is rooted in the fact that this island is a part of the GIUK gap . GIUK stands for Greenland ,Iceland and the United Kingdom. It is a maritime choke point in the Arctic region. Since Russia asserts itself as the predominant Arctic power, Trump contends that US must strongly checkmate Moscow.
WHY TRUMP WANTS GREENLAND
But why is Trump so anxious, rather desperate about possessing Greenland ? Why does he have to ratchet the tempo? Why he is embarrassing the NATO? As the defacto head of the NATO he could elicit any military or strategic concession from Denmark another NATO member. Moreover as per the 1951 US- Denmark Treaty the US is permitted to construct, install, maintain and operate military bases in Greenland. Does Trump doubt the longevity of the NATO Alliance or does he consider the alliance as a Cold War relic?
He probably realises that alliances are transient while the US as a country is permanent. He probably realises that the Greenland may renege from any agreement in the unknown future .After all the island did secure the rights from Denmark in 2009 to declare Independence based on referendum .. This was a quantum political leap from the self -governance that it had acquired in 1979 from Copenhagen.
GREENLAND IS CLOSER TO US
Greenland is vital for the US not just for strategic but economic reasons as well. Since World War 2, there has been continuous US military presence in Greenland. The Pituffik Space Base situated in the North West Coast of Greenland served as a major base during the war. It was a very big base which has been scaled down over the years. which Moreover Washington is closer to Greenland than Copenhagen. The distance from the US to Greenland is 2700 kms while the island is 3500 kms from the Denmark mainland. In the coverall analysis the US reckons that it is the only power that can protect the GIUK gap and the Arctic region as such from the strategic forays by Russia as well as China. The US considers itself a global player and Denmark a NATO camp follower. In the geopolitical parlance Denmark does not have the same strategic heft as the US. Copenhagen ' s tryst with Greenland is relatively recent. It was in 1721 that the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egde began to colonize Greenland. Over the period he was successful in implanting the Christian relegion in the island. Once the Danish Norwegian union ruptured, Copenhagen became the sole master of Greenland
WORLD WAR 2 AND GREENLAND
In 1940, Germany invaded Denmark, nevertheless Greenland remained an unoccupied territory. There was serious apprehension that US or Canada or UK may seize the territory. Finally the US moved in and between 1941 and 1945 it set up extensive military facilities like Radio Communication, Ports, Depots, Artillery Positions, Search and Rescue Missions .The US Coast Guard carried out considerable civilian resupply on both eastern and western coasts of the island. UK and Canada made moves to register their presence on Greenland but the US emphatically rejected any third party intervention. The outcome of the US strategic initiative was that Greenland , socially and economically got more intimately connected to the US than Denmark.
ROOSEVELT NEUTRALITY ZONE
For the US , the defence of Greenland, with humongous landmass and coastline presented a military and strategic challenge. The US was particularly concerned about the possibility of Germans occupying the eastern coast. Hence in April 1941 Roosevelt extended US 'neutrality zone' to include Greenland .Consequently the US commenced the patrolling of Western Atlantic. In a way the US now came to be engaged with Germany in" low threshold war."
METEOROLOGICAL ERSPECTIVE
Greenland is a breeding ground for Western Europe's storms. Between 1939 and 1945 any weather station that could withstand the harsh and unforgiving Arctic conditions in Greenland could provide early warning of inclement weather based on which miltary operations were planned and thus became 'prized ,intelligence". The Germans had imposed censorship on weather information and reports.
GIUK WATERS.
The GIUK waters connects the North Atlantic to Arctic and are a kind of gateway for Russian and Chinese vessel. The GIUK gap is approximately 1100 km long i.e. from Greenland to Iceland 320 kms and from Iceland to Scotland 800 kms. The gap was crucial for countering German U Boats during World War 2.Yet many of these boats went undetected because aircraft did not have the range to f cover the gap, thus rendering a blind spot ,which the German U Boats took full advantage of. During the Cold War this maritime defensive line was vital for detecting Soviet submarines attempting to cross it. Now a new maritime phenomenon has revolutionized maritime affairs in the Arctic region. Historically the frozen Arctic served as a natural barrier, sheltering Russia from naval threats. Now the melting ice in the Arctic expands Russia's operational theatre. On the other any further militarization of the GIUK by the US or the NATO will also increase Russia 's vulnerabilities. Russia has taken the lead in militarization of the Arctic with the ultimate objective of establishing control on polar shipping lanes. 
NORTHERN SHIPPING
ROUTE (NSR)
The NSR is about 5600 kms long. The entire route lies in the Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The important ports on the NSR in the Arctic Zone are Sabetta, Dikson, Dudinka,, Khatanga, Tiksi and Pevek. Considering the spherical shape of the earth the Arctic Circle makes the distance from Russia to the other parts of the world drastically shorter . For example the distance between Mumansk in Russia to Yokohama in Japan through the Suez Canal is 12840 Nautical Miles while it's less than half through the NSR i.e 5770 Nautical Miles. This reduces the sailing time by 30 to 40 percent. The closest distance between Russia and the US is across the Bering Strait near the Dimoede Islands where they are only 3.8 km apart but this is a Cold Water passage. The Hot Water passage from Mumansk to the US west coast is 14000 -18000 NM but via the NSR it is 8000-10000 NM. For most parts of the year this route is frozen requiring ice breaker assistance. Russia operates a nuclear ice breaker fleet consisting eight vessels . These vessels can break through ice three meters thick. In 2017 one vessel was able to cover the NSR without ice breaker assistance, which was an epoch making maritime event. In 2025 approximately 103 ships went through the NSR, which included bulk carriers, LNG carriers, container ships primarily moving Russian coal and oil to China. Reportedly about 109shadow (sanctioned) ships also adopted this route. Putin had set a target of 80 million tons of cargo through this route by 2024, but has only managed to reach the half way mark.
SCRAMBLE FOR ARCTIC.
Trump says that there is swarming of Russian and Chinese ships in the region but the Vessel Tracking Data, Maritime Data does not bear this out. Nevertheless there is indeed scramble for Arctic as it melts. US, Canada, Russia and China are the key players in this scramble. India too has been provided access to the region by virtue of the Reciprocal Exchange Of Logistics(RELOS ) agreement it has signed with Russia. In turn India has provided logistic facilities to Russian naval ships operating in the Indian Ocean. China has built research vessels to survey these waters. So far it has sent ten scientific expeditions in the region. In fact Russia and China are together developing the shipping routes in this region so that the Russian oil could reach to China through the shortest route. It enables both the countries to bypass westerns sanctions and reduce China's dependence on the Malacca Strait. In 2024 Canada issued a policy document addressing increased global competition and threats particularly from Russia in the Arctic region. In this document it has enunciated it's military and diplomatic plans which includes appointing an Arctic Ambassador and establishing new consulates .
MINERAL WEALTH IN GREENLAND
25 of the 34 minerals deemed critical raw materials by the European Union are found in Greenland. These include resources such as Lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE). It also possesses large volume of hydrocarbons including oil and gas. As per the estimates of the US Geological Survey the onshore northeastern Greenland contains about 31 billion barrels of oil equivalent to the entire proven reserves of the US. The Economist referred to Greenland as a ''potential deal of the century" for the US.
CONCLUSION
A sampling of contrasting and adversarial statements emanating from the key players says it all. Trump emphasizes: " We need Greenland for international safety and security---we need it ---we have to have it. " The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederickson has warned : "if the US decides to militarily
attack another NATO country then everything would stop--that includes NATO and therefore post Second World War security " The Prime Minister of autonomous Greenland, Jens Frederik Nielsen has reminded Trump that relations between nations are built on mutual respect and international law. More recently he said:" We are facing a geopolitical crisis , and if we have to choose between United States and Denmark, here and now, we choose Denmark " Will the USA's strategic compulsions owing to increasing navigability of the Arctic Ocean override every other consideration?
RSN Singh
(The content of this article reflects the views of writer and contributor, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
Leave Your Comment