For the past few weeks, everyone has been talking about nothing else. Donald Trump France has publicly stated its desire to seize Greenland, a position it reiterated this Wednesday in Davos, provoking international tensions and, for some, incomprehension. Emmanuel Macron even texted the American president, stating that he didn't understand what he was doing with Greenland. Yet, the United States' interest in this island is far from new. In 1946, President Truman's administration even offered $100 million in gold to annex the territory. So why such interest from the United States in this island? Interviews He goes back in time and explains everything…
The world's largest island
Greenland is the world's largest island (Australia is classified as a continent), but also one of the most isolated and sparsely populated territories on the planet, with a population of approximately 57,000 inhabitants spread over more than two million square kilometers. Its first inhabitants were Paleo-Inuit peoples who migrated from the Canadian Arctic, followed by the Inuit. In the Middle Ages, Norse explorers, notably Erik the Red around 982 AD, established settlements that eventually disappeared before the modern era. It was only in the 18th century that the Danes regained a foothold on the island, gradually integrating it into the Kingdom of Denmark, of which it remains officially a part to this day, with a status that evolved towards greater autonomy throughout the 20th century.
From Danish colony to expanded autonomy
Long considered a distant Danish colony, Greenland began to change its political status in the second half of the 20th century. In 1979, Denmark granted the island internal autonomy, allowing it to manage most of its local affairs. Then, in 2009, a more comprehensive reform of the Self-Government Act recognized the right of the Greenlandic people to potentially become independent in the future, transferring even more powers from the Danish government to local institutions. Denmark, however, retains responsibility for foreign affairs and defense, which still makes it the sovereign authority on the international stage. This increased autonomy is accompanied by an internal debate on full independence, made difficult by still limited financial resources and a heavy reliance on Danish subsidies.
Europe: a voluntary withdrawal, but historical ties
When Denmark joined the European Economic Community in 1973, Greenland was automatically included. However, the importance of fishing to the Greenlandic economy quickly clashed with the European quotas imposed by the EEC. In 1982, a referendum showed that a majority of Greenlanders wanted to withdraw from the EEC, a sentiment echoed by Donald Trump, and Greenland left the EEC in 1985, while remaining linked to Europe through Copenhagen via specific agreements (particularly in the areas of fishing and European funding). This established a unique relationship: Greenland is not a member of the European Union, but it is not entirely isolated from its markets and certain sources of funding.
Strategic importance since the Cold War
Relations between Greenland and the United States date back to World War II. From 1941, with Denmark occupied by Nazi Germany, the United States assumed responsibility for Greenland's defense and established air bases to support Allied operations. It was in this context that the island's strategic role crystallized: positioned at the heart of the polar route between Washington and Moscow, it became a key point for aerial surveillance and the defense of the North American continent against any threat from the north. This strategic value did not diminish after the war; on the contrary, it increased as tensions with the Soviet Union escalated.
The 1946 offer: a little-known acquisition attempt
In the aftermath of World War II, as tensions between the West and the Soviet Union escalated, President Harry S. Truman's administration decided to go beyond a mere military presence. In December 1946, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, acting on behalf of the White House, made a formal offer to the Danish government to purchase Greenland for $100 million in gold. This sum was considerable at the time and reflected the importance American strategists placed on the island for security and power projection in the Arctic during the burgeoning Cold War.
The document sent to Danish Minister Gustav Rasmussen proposed several options: extending or formalizing a defense agreement, leasing the bases for an extended period, or purchasing the island outright. American officials believed a sale would be "clearer" and would avoid debates about the American military presence on Danish territory after the war. The very idea shocked the Danish authorities, who had not anticipated such a direct proposal and who viewed Greenland as an integral part of their kingdom, with profound historical and symbolic significance. The Danish government rejected all the proposed options, preferring to maintain its sovereignty and access to the bases through defense agreements rather than territorial cession.
This offer was kept secret for decadesThis fact was only revealed to the public in the 1970s with the release of declassified archives and historical reports. The 1946 proposal, though long unknown to the general public, demonstrates that American interest in Greenland is not a modern curiosity but dates back to the very origins of the Cold War. Today, the 1951 Defense Agreement allows the United States to operate military bases, notably the one at Thule (Pituffik), while respecting Danish sovereignty, rather than obtaining a complete cession of the territory.
What are the geopolitical issues today?
At the beginning of the 21st century, interest in Greenland intensified due to climate change. The melting of Arctic ice gradually opened new maritime routes and made previously unexploitable or difficult-to-exploit natural resources, such as oil, gas, uranium, and rare earth elements essential to modern technologies, more accessible. These factors attracted the attention of major powers, which saw the Arctic as a new arena for economic and strategic competition. With the rise of Russian ambitions in the North and China's growing interest in polar trade routes, Greenland re-emerged as a key geopolitical player.
Donald Trump's offensive
From his first term, and continuing to this day, President Donald Trump has publicly revived the idea of buying Greenland, sparking a wave of diplomatic reactions. He sees this potential acquisition as a way to strengthen American security and counter the influence of other powers. The American administration has explored the idea in various ways, ranging from direct purchase to defense agreements or closer ties with Greenland. However, just as in 1946, Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities have clearly stated that the territory is not for sale, reiterating that any such development should be decided by the Greenlandic people themselves.
The growing shadow of China and Russia
Greenland's return to the forefront of global affairs is taking place against a backdrop of power competition. China, although not an Arctic nation, prides itself on being a "near-Arctic state" and is increasing its investments in resource development and infrastructure projects in the Arctic. Beijing sees the opening of polar shipping routes as a commercial and strategic opportunity that could bring Europe, Asia, and the Americas closer together. For its part, Russia has strengthened its military presence in the Arctic, with modern bases and regular military exercises, asserting its role as a regional power. This dual development intensifies the competition for influence over Greenland, increasing its strategic value in the global balance of power.
Imagining a scenario in which Greenland falls under the dominant influence of China or Russia instead of the United States or Western allies demonstrates just how crucial this issue is for the United States. A strong Chinese presence would provide Beijing with a strategic foothold in the Arctic, facilitating broader access to natural resources and offering leverage over new polar shipping routes. It could also diminish the influence of Western countries in this key region and alter the balance of global supply chains in critical technology sectors.
Increased Russian influence would, in turn, strengthen Moscow's dominance in the Eurasian Arctic, creating a corridor of influence extending into the North Atlantic, which would be perceived as a strategic threat by NATO and the United States. This could lead to increased militarization of the Arctic, renewed tensions on trade routes, and a direct challenge to current international safety and navigation standards.
In both cases, a reduction in Western influence could transform not only Arctic geopolitics, but also the global strategic landscape, with major implications for alliances, energy markets and power struggles between great powers.
A crucial geopolitical point of interest
Greenland is not simply a vast expanse of ice in the North Atlantic. It represents a point of immense geopolitical interest, intertwining history, national identity, resource wealth, and a strategic position for global security. The 1946 American offer under Truman demonstrates that US interest in this region is not new, even though the idea of a direct purchase was rejected. Today, as international dynamics shift with climate change, the ambitions of powers like the United States, China, and Russia serve as a reminder that Greenland could play a pivotal role in 21st-century geopolitics.
