We are continuing to watch the developments related to Greenland, which have gotten especially interesting after President-elect Donald Trump tasked his pick for Ambassador to Denmark with persuading the Danes to sell us the resource-rich Arctic land.
Shortly after that announcement, Greenland suffered a major power outage due to a downed transmission line. The blackout plunged the region into darkness as temperatures dropped below -27 degrees Fahrenheit (-33°C).
This was shortly followed by Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede calling for independence from Denmark, marking a significant shift in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island’s future.
Trump’s son later went on an “unofficial” visit to Greenland. At that time, I speculated that persuading the people of Greenland to become an independent territory of the United States might be the best deal that could be placed on the table.
Recently, Egede appeared at a joint press conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during which he said that he’s ready to speak with Trump as ‘the status quo is no longer an option.’
Now Frederiksen had a 45-minute call with Trump, saying Greenland should determine its independence.
According to a press release from her office following a phone call between the two leaders on Wednesday, Frederiksen reiterated to Trump Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede’s assertion that “Greenland is not for sale.”The Danish premier said last week that she had requested to speak to Trump but hadn’t yet heard back. At the time, she assured there was “no reason to believe” Trump actually plans to invade Greenland.Frederiksen told Danish news outlet TV2 in an interview following her call with Trump that their conversation “confirmed” that “there is great American interest in Greenland.” The call did not appear to bring the issue to a conclusion, with both leaders agreeing to continued dialogue.Trump has not spoken publicly about the call, choosing instead to repost on social media the results of a 2019 poll that found that 68 percent of Greenlanders supported independence from Denmark.
The news aligns with reports that the Danish government has privately sent a message to Trump’s team that Copenhagen is happy to negotiate military and economic deals related to Greenland, but wants the conversations to take place behind closed doors.
There are a variety of deals that could be negotiated. One intriguing option could be creating a Compact of Free Association (COFA).
In a nutshell, a COFA is a formal agreement between the US and and a sovereign nation that establishes a unique relationship, granting these nations significant economic aid, defense guarantees, and access to U.S. programs, while allowing the U.S. strategic military rights in their territories. The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau all have such agreements.
There are many benefits for Greenland in a COFA. Economic Assistance. To begin with, the US would provide financial aid to support economic development, infrastructure, and public services in these nations.
The US would handle all defense matters in the nation’s territories. Citizens of Greenland could live, work, and study in this country without a visa. They would also be eligible for certain U.S. federal programs.
Yet Greenland would retain its sovereignty and conduct its own foreign relations, except in areas where it agrees to consult with the US, particularly on defense matters.
One Dane is in favor of making a deal with Trump, as it would allow Greenland to develop and prosper in ways Denmark just can’t support.
And the mineral resources, as well as having the region as part of an Arctic defense strategy may make a COFA the perfect option for Greenland.
It will be interesting to see where this goes once Trump is inaugurated.
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