Impressive ice landscapes, mountains and tundra, unique fauna: Greenland undoubtedly offers countless motifs for wonderful photos and videos. But did Donald Trump's son go there for them? Trump Jr. tried to present his visit there as something unimportant. "We are just here as tourists," he told Greenlandic radio, then conveyed many greetings from his father. Who has apparently decided to turn Greenland into the 51st US state.
Reuters reported, citing sources in Trump Jr.'s entourage, that during his one-day visit he wanted to shoot a video for a podcast, without holding any political meetings. But a report in the Danish media claimed that Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede hastily canceled his meeting with Danish King Frederik, sparking speculation - but it was not clear what the prime minister wanted to do with his time.
Trump's interest in Greenland
Trump Jr.'s Instagram account, which describes himself as a nature lover, is full of political posts related to his father's policies. Therefore, it is quite unlikely that the trip has nothing to do with the intentions expressed by the 47th US president, who will take office on January 20.
Since his election victory, Trump has sought to control a number of areas outside the US, such as the Panama Canal or Canada, which has even been mentioned as plans for annexation. But Trump's biggest claims are to Greenland - He has been talking about a possible purchase of the territory, which is autonomous and under Danish control, since 2019.
Trump wants to save Greenland. But from whom?
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire: before his son's flight, he posted a video of a man wearing a hat with the inscription "Make America Great Again", who calls on Trump to buy Greenland and free it from Danish "colonial domination".
Trump promises Greenland and its 56,000 inhabitants protection, but has not yet shared any reasons for his desire. In economic and geopolitical terms, the influence in the resource-rich Arctic region, which is also claimed by Russia and China, will undoubtedly grow. The US also has a close connection to the Arctic, with Alaska being its home, and it has maintained an air base in northern Greenland since 1951. Trump sees ownership of the largest island on Earth as an "absolute necessity" and has already threatened Denmark with economic pressure to force it to sell the territory to him.
Cologne political scientist Thomas Jaeger believes that there is another motive for Trump's desire: "We can imagine that Trump wants to fit into the tradition of presidents who have seriously expanded the territory of the United States - such as in the 19th century, when Alaska was purchased. That would be something that would really make him a great president."
A step towards Greenland's independence from Denmark
For Trump, Greenland is just a means to an end, says Greenlandic MP in the Danish parliament Aja Chemnitz. "I don't want to be a pawn in Trump's empire-expanding ravings," Chemnitz wrote on Facebook.
In Greenland itself, a completely different debate is currently taking place - in his New Year's address, Prime Minister Egede called for "important steps towards achieving the country's independence" and stressed: "The future of the country belongs to us!"
The island, inhabited by Inuit, was colonized in the 18th century by Denmark and Norway and eventually came under the administration of the Danish crown. After World War II, Greenland was officially decolonized, but at the same time, women were forced to use contraception and children were taken to Denmark against their parents' will. The atrocities committed are being reconsidered too slowly, which has further strengthened the desire of Greenlanders to finally separate from Denmark.
After the election of a new parliament in the autonomous region, supporters of independence hope for new progress. In his New Year's speech, Egede said that the parliament has already begun preparing a constitution for a sovereign Greenland.
Denmark does not want to give up Greenland
However, it is not at all certain that an independent Greenland will be able to exist economically at all: Copenhagen sends about 550 million euros annually - approximately a third of the island's budget funds.
But Denmark is unlikely to want to give up Greenland either - because of its underground resources and geostrategic importance. Shortly after Trump's offer, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen published a list of investments in Greenland's military infrastructure.
In addition, the kingdom has given Greenland more space in the new coat of arms - the Greenlandic polar bear now has a much more central position in the heraldic sign. "We are one", King Frederick emphasized in his New Year's speech.
But would Greenlanders also sign up to these words? The question will continue to be debated during the election campaign. Independence, joining the US or remaining with Denmark with possibly increased subsidies - the geopolitical assessment of the melting Arctic is a trump card in Greenland's hands.
Author: David El