Trump Claims Victory Over Greenland Crisis
Matthew Gerken
Staff Writer
President Donald Trump recently claimed “victory” over the dispute between Denmark and the U.S. over possession of Greenland. Following his return from Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending an international conference, President Trump stated, “We’re getting everything we wanted-total security, total access to everything,” according to NBC News. President Trump boasted that he was able to get all points he requested except for direct possession of Greenland.
Much of the debate between Denmark and the U.S. revolves around the issue of military presence on the island. The Trump administration fears that any potential conflict with Russia will require a larger armed garrison around the Arctic and North Atlantic. Both Denmark and the U.S. have set agreements, like their 1951 defense treaty which allows for the U.S. to build bases on Greenland. While the new agreement reached was ultimately a return to the status quo, USA Today noted that Trump said, “The US needs to own Greenland.” This added detail may indicate that future disagreements may arise between the Trump administration and the Kingdom of Denmark, since the U.S. has not completely gained control over the island. Axios notes that the cessation of argumentation between Denmark, the U.S., and Europe have surprisingly provided a victory for all parties involved. Denmark was reportedly victorious due to no permanent territorial change or loss. The U.S. claimed victory due to the renewed access to Arctic bases. Europe also claimed a small but important goal of military independence from the United States, as leaders like Macron and Merz offered to increase their armed presence should any threat arrive on Greenland’s shores. A report from Reuters confirmed the United States’ continued goals of securing “the entire Arctic region,” which was the wording that President Trump used to describe the plan that both he and North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary Mark Rutte had arranged. These new foreign policy initiatives are increasingly common, and this trend of diplomatic centralization is becoming a new favorite tactic of the Trump administration. Little professional or expert advice was utilized in the drafting of this new agreement, and many decisions are now being made within the Cabinet alone.
Even though Trump and other parties have claimed victory of the Greenland Crisis, the issue remains unsettled and open for future conflict. According to Politico, the Danish foreign minister stated, “Denmark and Greenland still have a fundamental disagreement with the U.S.” This debate has two possible endings, and both are plausible given the events of the previous two weeks: the U.S. seizes Greenland, or Europe stands together and Trump backs down. Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen told reporters, “We didn’t change the American position.” This failure to properly finish the Greenland debate may continue to be a problem for the rest of President Trump’s second term. President Trump himself noted, “If we don’t go in Russia’s going to go in and China’s going to go in,” showing the level of distrust between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States. Rasmussen remained pessimistic about the issue and when asked if there was any chance of the discussion moving forward said he “was unsure whether it would be possible.” The fate of the island remains unclear, but it is likely that this will not be the last time Greenland is relevant to this Trump administration.
Image courtesy of Getty Images.
