Where is the territory and who controls it?

US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to take management of Greenland, the Arctic territory managed by Denmark.

Why is Trump speaking about this – and why now?

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is situated within the Arctic.

It is essentially the most sparsely populated territory on this planet. About 56,000 individuals reside there, largely indigenous Inuit.

About 80% of its territory is roofed in ice, which signifies that many of the inhabitants lives on the southwestern coast across the capital Nuuk.

An autonomous territory of Denmark, it’s also residence to Danish and US navy bases.

The economic system is principally based mostly on fishing. Large subsidies from the Danish authorities characterize round a fifth of GDP.

In current years, there was rising curiosity in Greenland’s pure assets, together with the mining of uncommon earth minerals, uranium and iron. These might change into extra accessible as world warming results in the melting of a few of the ice masking Greenland.

Located geographically inside North America, Greenland has been managed by Denmark – practically 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away – for about 300 years.

The island was ruled as a colony till the mid-Twentieth century. For a lot of this time he remained remoted and poor.

In 1953 it was annexed to the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders turned Danish residents.

In 1979, a referendum on self-government gave Greenland management of most insurance policies throughout the territory, whereas Denmark retained management over international affairs and protection.

The United States has lengthy maintained a safety curiosity in Greenland. After Nazi Germany occupied mainland Denmark throughout World War II, the United States invaded Greenland, establishing navy and radio stations all through the territory.

After the conflict, American forces remained in Greenland. Pituffik Space Base, previously referred to as Thule Air Base, has been operated by the United States ever since.

In 1951, a protection settlement with Denmark granted the United States a big function within the territory’s protection, together with the proper to construct and preserve navy bases.

“If Russia have been to ship missiles to the United States, the shortest path to nuclear weapons could be by the North Pole and Greenland,” stated Marc Jacobsen, an affiliate professor on the Royal Denmark Defense College.

“This is why Pituffik Space Base is immensely necessary within the protection of the United States.”

According to a paper from the Arctic Institute, China and Russia have begun to develop their navy capabilities within the Arctic in recent times. The doc known as on the United States to additional develop its presence within the Arctic to counter its rivals.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated on Wednesday that Denmark was open to discussions with the United States, including that Washington had “respectable” pursuits within the area.

“We see a Russia that’s arming itself. We see a China that can be beginning to take an curiosity,” Rasmussen stated.

Trump can be seemingly within the mineral potential in Greenland’s huge landmass, Jacobsen added.

“Today, of specific curiosity are uncommon earth minerals, which haven’t but been mined however are discovered within the southern a part of Greenland. These are immensely necessary in every kind of applied sciences, from cell phones to wind generators.”

Trump has stated that management of Greenland is crucial to U.S. nationwide and financial safety.

While the president-elect’s rhetoric could appear uncommon, for greater than a century a succession of U.S. presidents have sought to realize management of Greenland.

“The United States has tried a number of occasions to oust the Danes from Greenland and take management of them as a part of the United States, or not less than have full safety of Greenland’s safety,” stated Lukas Wahden, creator of 66° Northa publication about safety within the Arctic.

In 1867, after buying Alaska from Russia, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward led negotiations to buy Greenland from Denmark, however failed to succeed in any settlement.

In 1946, the United States supplied to pay $100 million (equal to $1.2 billion; £970 million right this moment) for the territory, believing it was very important to nationwide safety, however the Danish authorities refused.

Trump additionally tried to buy Greenland throughout his first time period. Both Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: “Greenland isn’t on the market.”

Kuno Fencker, a member of Inatsisartut, Greenland’s parliament, stated Wednesday that he didn’t view Trump’s feedback as a menace.

Fencker, who helps Greenland independence, instructed the BBC {that a} sovereign Greenland might select to cooperate with the United States on protection issues.

But when Trump first floated the concept of ​​shopping for Greenland in 2019, many locals he told the BBC they have been towards the proposal.

“This is a really harmful thought,” stated Dines Mikaelsen, a tour operator born and raised in Tasiilaq, jap Greenland.

“He treats us like a commodity he can purchase,” stated Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s first feminine prime minister.

“He’s not even speaking to Greenland, he is speaking to Denmark to purchase Greenland.”