'We do not want to be Americans' says Greenland's PM as Trump hints at land grab
'We do not want to be Americans' says Greenland's PM as Trump hints at land grab
Summary
Greenland's Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated that Greenlanders want independence and neither want to be Danes nor Americans, following Donald Trump's comments about acquiring the territory for strategic reasons.
Trump suggested using force or economic pressure, alarming Denmark and Europe.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed Greenland's sovereignty, stating "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."
The US sees Greenland as key in Arctic geopolitics, given its resources and location, but Egede stressed Greenland's identity as distinct from Denmark, the US, or NATO politics.
I dont think even some americans want to be americans anymore
The material wealth is cool and all, but theres a shame and guilt that comes with being complicit in certain atrocities as well as the denial of material wealth to the citizens of many of the countries which we economically colonize.
And for an increasing number of people, the material wealth part is fading. Then there's the illusion of democratic participation to which more people are beginning to become cognizant of. Oh boy.
It must be awful there since I dont even live there and even I feel more like slave than free human when it comes to my place in society. Slave as in i'm meant to just consume things and somehow get the money for it, doesnt matter how as long as rich keep getting richer. I also cant see any way to really affect the world without it being illegal or frowned upon if i dont already have a lot of money and influence.
Is this literally Trump engaging in a dick measuring contest with Xi and Putin? Like "they're gonna take Ukraine and Taiwan? NO FAIR I want new land too!!!" What a fucking baby
No. He's doing this on Putin's orders.
Greenland is essential for NATO.
Man, this new focus tree is weird. Didn't realize you could just skip Anschluss with
AustriaCanada and go straight to annexingSudetenlandGreenland.History only reflects, not exactly repetition.
Considering that USA does not rule out using force, Greenland should tell them to close their military base on Greenland and send their loud mouths back to their own territory.
The base is probably established using some long-term lease agreement. One would have to read the fine print about ending the agreement, but in principle - I agree.
There is another complexity, though - the words were said by not-yet-president. There might be a difference between a president threatening another land, and a not-yet-president doing so. Currently the president is Biden and will remain so for 9 more days.
Regardless, if the US base in Greenland were to see motions towards ending its lease agreement - especially if Trump keeps saying the things he has - that would be 100% understandable.
When the countries were still on amicable terms, Ukraine leased Russia some naval bases in Crimea, and we know what happened subsequently in 2014 - they were used to stage a takeover of the peninsula.
That's assuming either Greenland or the US act in good faith. Pieces of paper and law aren't magic forcefields that prevent something from happening. If Greenland needs to secure itself, expelling threats to their independence from its land isn't going to hinge on a lease agreement.
All agreements should have a clause in them moving forward that any comments from the USA president or congress memeber about taking over the other parties land is an immediate ending of the agreement with all property in said territory immediately becoming the property of other nation.
get in line.
As an American: Same.
Basically this
Unfortunately Denmark is their best protection from the US. Trump set back their plans by a decade at least.
When asking why is this so important to Trump, it can only be money. Nothing else motivates him. They say there are minerals there but it’s probably oil.
He acts to get more for himself constantly, sure, but that's not the end goal for him. He doesn't truly appreciate money, because he's always had it and he's always squandered it.
The prime motivator for Trump is ego. Money is simply a vehicle to that goal. Once he takes office, "Trump" and the political entity of "the United States" will be one and the same to him. He wants the world to see him as powerful and uncompromising, and he wants to be treated with that mix of adoration and fear that every violent despot in history has strived for. He sees the US's powerful military, and wonders why we aren't crushing the world underfoot, enemies and allies alike. He does not understand the value of mutual relationships where Trump has to make any compromise. He does not understand the value of global stability when there are gains to be made and none of the blowback will likely ever affect him personally. He is legitimately a psychopath, constrained only by the objective reality that he cannot bloviate away.
And the Trump Party (formerly the Republican Party) has decided that the path to ultimate power is to plow away every roadblock to Trump doing whatever he wants, and then they can manipulate and control him from there. The National Socialists thought the same of Hitler.
Look no further than Russia. Everything Trump ever looks at, he is directed to do so by Putin.
What does Denmark have to do with this? There are closer countries than that.
What’s Denmark Got to Do With It? by Tina Tørnér
You must explain it to me, I don't quite understand, This icy place they call Greenland—what's the Danish plan? It’s got icebergs and tundra, not castles or beer— How’s Copenhagen tied to something way up here?
I've heard they rule it, but why do they care? It’s far away, and it’s freezing out there!
What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? What’s Denmark’s claim on this frozen bit? What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? Who needs a kingdom when it’s Arctic grit?
Is it about the Vikings? Or just flags on the ground? Why does a country so tiny keep this icy crown? There’s Inuit culture—they’ve lived here so long, Yet Denmark stamps their coins; it just feels wrong.
The whole thing’s puzzling—why’s it this way? Do they like the cod or the oil in the bay?
What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? Why keep a land where the summers don’t hit? What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? It’s Greenland, not a spot for a Danish knit!
Maybe it’s history, or maybe it’s greed, Or they just want control of some Arctic seaweed. They’ve got pastries and bicycles, castles so grand— So why do they hold this much colder land?
Greenland’s so distant, no bakeries in sight, Just polar bears and auroras at night!
What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? Why hold a place where no crops will fit? What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? Tell me the reason, I’ll Google it!
What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? What’s the link to this Arctic bit? What’s Denmark got to do, got to do with it? A colony, or just government grit?
Nor should they.
