Former US president reaffirms interest in the Arctic territory while attempting to reassure allies and constituents that military intervention is not an option.
Donald Trump has stated that he would not use force to gain control of Greenland taking a softer tone on an old idea that has periodically unsettled Denmark and raised some eyebrows in NATO.
In comments this week the former US president stated that he would not seek the Arctic territory through military action couching his intentions in terms of strategic partnership and economic interests.
The statement is a reversal of the most aggressive suggestion of his initial musings on the territory of Greenland which during his first term in office caused a diplomatic rift with Copenhagen.
Trump’s latest remarks come as Arctic politics rise up the foreign policy agenda for Washington and its allies.
The melting ice cap is creating new trade routes while rival claims for resources, energy and strategic positioning are escalating in the face of tensions with Russia and China.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark located along important North Atlantic routes with a large US air base at Pituffik or Thule, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance.
The former president stated that he would not resort to force but he did not rule out the notion that the United States has a vital interest in Greenland’s future.
He has stated in the past that a closer relationship would be mutually beneficial for both countries on an economic and strategic level.
Although he has never presented a plan that would be acceptable to the Danish government or the elected government of Greenland.
The Danish government has always maintained that Greenland is not for sale and that the future of Greenland is in the hands of the Greenlandic people. This stand has not changed.
The government of Greenland has also emphasized its desire for more self administration and cooperation that takes into consideration their sovereignty.
The comment by Trump seems to be an attempt to ease any concerns among allies at a particularly sensitive time for transatlantic relations.
The unity of NATO has been strained as European governments have called for greater clarity from the United States on security, trade and climate issues.
For Australia, which has a strong defense relationship with Washington and is increasingly interested in the Indo Pacific and polar regions the unity of allies is a fundamental concern.
In the meantime, Trump’s promise provides a degree of comfort to allies who are concerned about the destabilizing tone of rhetoric.
It also provides an opportunity for a wider discussion about how the United States and its allies can engage with Greenland in a way that takes into account its strategic interests and its sovereignty.
