Trump Continues Push for Greenland as U.S. Gathers Intelligence on Island and Debates Offering Special Status
US president Donald Trump goes after Greenland again. A view of the Nuussuaq Peninsula from the town of Uummannaq. (Photo: Algkalv, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Trump Administration is stepping up efforts in its pursuit of “acquiring” Greenland. U.S. spy agencies have been instructed to gather intelligence, while the Pentagon considers moving the island into the NORTHCOM military command. Tying Greenland to the U.S. through a Compact of Free Association is also being discussed.
After weeks of deep freeze in the Trump-Greenland saga, the U.S. administration has seemingly started a new push to gain control over the island nation.
The Trump administration has ordered the country’s spy agencies to step up efforts to collect intelligence on the island. The development was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The directive aims at enhancing U.S. knowledge and understanding of Greenland’s political landscape, including its population’s stance on independence, and the country’s economic geopolitical importance arising from its resources and location.
Danish rebukes were immediate with officials rejecting the efforts as unacceptable.
Speaking to the media Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said “it worries me greatly because we do not spy on friends.” Rasmussen also summoned the U.S. ambassador to Denmark to express disapproval of the spy claims.
Aimed at driving a stake between Greenland and Denmark
Switching Greenland to NORTHCOM
Over the weekend additional plans by the Trump administration to further its influence over Greenland became public. The Pentagon is considering switching Greenland from the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) to the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM).
Currently Greenland is part of the European geographic command of the U.S military, together with the rest of Europe, the Caucasus, and Russia.
The White House is also weighing the possibility of turning Greenland into a territory in free association with the U.S. according to reporting by Reuters – a status thus far only used for small island nations in the remote Pacific Ocean, including the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
Both moves are seemingly aimed at driving a stake between Greenland and Denmark.
The former would move Greenland at least symbolically closer to the U.S. – NORTHCOM is responsible for the continental United States – while Denmark would remain part of EUCOM.
The latter, wrestling Greenland into the U.S. sphere of influence via a Compact of Free Association, would almost certainly require Greenland to end its longstanding affiliation with Denmark.
U.S. Unified Command Map. (Source: Lancer under CC BY-SA 3.0)
While the Trump Administration can initiate Greenland’s switch from EUCOM to NORTHCOM unilaterally, pulling the island nation into a Compact of Free Association (COFA) status would require approval and action on the part of the Greenlandic people.
Odds remain slim that Greenland or Denmark will welcome these latest proposals, public opinion remains sharply tilted against the U.S. forays.
Trump doubles down on Greenland
Trump is likely to argue that a COFA-type arrangement will be immensely positive for Greenland, a line of argument he has employed previously.
Nations under free association with the U.S. generally receive financial support for essential services, assistance in case of regional or environmental emergencies, as well as military protection.
Backing up his earlier statements Trump said last week that the U.S. “needs” Greenland and again declined to rule out military force to achieve its goal.
“I don’t rule it out,” he said.
“I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything.”
“We need Greenland very badly,” Trump continued.
“Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.”
