2 Reasons Why Trump Wants to Buy Greenland- Ep.1
(Feat. Project 2029, Donald Trump, President, Global Warming, Denmark, Canada, USA, Whisky War, China, Russia, Melting Ice cap, Pacific Atlantic Ocean Nautical Map, North Pole, Shipping, Canal, Strait)
1. On December 8, Republican Congressman Michael Collins (from Georgia) posted a map on X (formerly Twitter).
2. The map, titled “Project 2029”, showed U.S. electoral districts, and surprisingly, Greenland was included in these districts.
3. Two things can be understood from this
4. First, “Wow, Greenland is such a huge island compared to U.S. territory,” and second, “Trump isn’t the only one interested in Greenland.“
5. Back in 2019, during Trump’s first term, he mentioned that the U.S. was reviewing the possibility of “purchasing” Greenland.
6. The Danish Prime Minister pushed back, saying, “Greenland is not for sale. I strongly hope the U.S. isn’t serious about this idea,” effectively putting the matter to rest.
7. Upset by the reaction, Trump canceled a planned visit to Denmark, creating tension between the two NATO allies – US and Denmark – for a while.
8. After Trump was re-elected, he appointed Ken Howery as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark.
9. During the appointment ceremony, Trump revived the idea by saying, “Owning and controlling Greenland is absolutely essential for national security and global freedom.”
10. Greenland’s importance comes down to two main reasons.
11. The first reason is the rapid melting of Greenland’s ice sheet.
12. Greenland, which is about a third the size of the entire U.S., is covered by permanent ice sheets over 80% of its surface, with an average thickness of 1 mile.
13. The ice on Greenland is melting six times faster now compared to the 1980s.
14. If the Arctic ice melts due to rising temperatures, the Arctic Ocean around Greenland will open up.
15. The “Whiskey War” that happened two years ago gives insight into how neighboring countries view the Arctic Ocean.
16. Greenland, owned by Denmark, shares a border with Canada in the Arctic region.
17. In 1973, Denmark and Canada agreed on a maritime boundary in the Nares Strait, which lies between them.
18. As part of the agreement, they divided Hans Island, a small island the size of a theme park, with Canada claiming the western half and Denmark the eastern half.
19. While the boundary was set smoothly, the status of Hans Island itself was overlooked due to a mistake by officials during the negotiations.
20. In 1984, Canadian forces landed on Hans Island.
21. The Canadians planted their national flag and buried a bottle of Canadian whiskey on the island to assert their claim.
22. Denmark responded by sending officials to retrieve the whiskey, bury a bottle of Danish schnapps, and raise their own flag.
23. This back-and-forth activity became known as the Whiskey War.
24. Both countries continued to take turns planting their flags and burying their respective alcohol, more as a lighthearted rivalry than a serious dispute.
25. Hans Island had little practical use, as the strait was often frozen over, making it difficult for ships to navigate the area.
26. However, as global warming began melting Greenland’s ice sheet, the situation started to change dramatically.
27. Analysts in the U.S. predict that by 2035, the ice in the Nares Strait will have melted enough to open a previously blocked sea route.
28. This new route would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
29. Hans Island would then become a key strategic point along this major trade route.
30. In the past, ships traveling from Europe to Asia had to go all the way around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa.
31. This route was over 13,000 nautical miles long.
32. The construction of the Suez Canal shortened the Asia-Europe route from 13,000 miles to 10,000 miles, saving 3,000 miles.
33. But there’s an even faster shortcut than the Suez Canal.
34. That shortcut is the Arctic Ocean route.
35. By passing through the Arctic Ocean above Russia, the 10,000 miles journey can be reduced to just 7,000 miles.
36. This would cut travel time from over 30-40 days to less than 25 days, saving significant fuel costs.
37. The Arctic route has another advantage.
38. It eliminates the risk of piracy, reducing insurance costs compared to passing through the Suez Canal.
39. The main obstacle, however, has been the harsh climate.
40. Until now, the Arctic route was only navigable for about two months during the summer when the ice melted.
41. But due to global warming, the ice has started melting earlier, extending the navigable season to 6–7 months from spring to fall.
42. It’s even possible to navigate year-round under certain conditions.
43. Icebreaker ships can lead the way by breaking the ice, or ships equipped with icebreaking capabilities can make the journey.
44. As the ice continues to melt, previously inaccessible Arctic routes are becoming viable.
45. With the Arctic route now operational, Hans Island’s strategic importance as a key point along this route has increased.
46. Ultimately, Denmark and Canada agreed to share Hans Island equally, resolving the Whiskey War amicably.
47. The Arctic route also has implications for the U.S.
48. If the Arctic route fully opens, the U.S. could use its ports on the Pacific side as strategic transshipment hubs.
49. Cargo could be sent to these hubs by regular ships and then transferred to icebreaker-equipped vessels for the Arctic journey.
50. Russia’s Yamal project, which relies on icebreaker LNG carriers and the Arctic route to transport natural gas, is another key example.
51. These icebreaker LNG ships are expensive, with reinforced hulls, powerful engines, and heat-traced pipelines to handle icy conditions.
52. The construction of these ships costs 1.5 times more than regular ships, making them highly profitable for shipbuilders, with U.S. companies increasingly eyeing this market.
53. Though payments from Russia for LNG carriers have stalled due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the project could revive after the war ends.
54. China is also interested in the Arctic route.
55. China has incorporated the Arctic route into its Belt and Road Initiative and has issued an Arctic policy white paper outlining its ambitions.
56. In August 2024, Russia and China established a joint Arctic Route Cooperation Committee, and by November, they agreed on operational principles for the committee.
57. The U.S. is not sitting idle.
58. In late November, the U.S., Canada, and Finland signed the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Agreement) to strengthen icebreaking capabilities.
59. The U.S. and its NATO allies are working together to catch up to Russia’s dominant icebreaking fleet.
60. For the U.S., securing Greenland would be a strategic move to dominate future Arctic shipping lanes.
61. This is the first reason for the U.S.’s interest in Greenland.
62. Whether the U.S. can achieve its goals depends on Greenland’s internal dynamics and how legitimate its claims appear on the global stage.
To Be Continued in Part 2…
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