Donald Trump Jr. has arrived in Greenland for what is being described as a private trip. But the visit draws attention after his father once again expressed a desire to take over the island. On Tuesday, the president-elect did not rule out military action to gain control of the island.
But how likely is it that Trump is serious? Foreign affairs commentator Elisabet Frerot gives her analysis.
Can Trump really take these threats seriously?
The threats are vaguely worded, and I find it hard to believe that he would invade Greenland. He doesn’t need that, militarily the US is already in control. Greenland is part of NATO, the US has bases there and far-reaching military cooperation with Denmark.
He can definitely put enormous pressure on Denmark to get his way, for example through punitive tariffs on Danish goods. But it is very remarkable that he is talking about MILITARY action against one of his closest allies in NATO.
But Denmark clearly says no – why is he pushing so hard?
Denmark will not sell Greenland, Mette Fredriksen has made that very clear twice. But she has also been very clear that it is not Denmark’s decision but the Greenlanders’. Greenland has autonomy and the right to decide its own destiny, they can decide in a referendum to leave Denmark. So far it has not happened because Greenland has been completely dependent on contributions from Denmark. But the increasing interest in Greenland and its natural resources has given the independence movement a boost, and Prime Minister Mute Egede said in his New Year’s speech that it is now time for Greenland to get serious about its independence plans. Maybe Trump doesn’t need to buy Greenland from Denmark at all, he can try to buy the Greenlanders instead and entice them that they would get a better deal with Trump than they have with Denmark.
What do the Greenlanders think?
The Greenlanders have a complicated relationship with the old colonial power, which has historically been responsible for a series of abuses against Greenlanders. There is a majority for independence, on paper anyway. But this bargain over the head of the Greenlanders has not landed well. Even Greenland’s head of government Egede says, just like Mette Fredriksen, that they are not for sale.