WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - National Security Matters: American Interests in Greenland

Episode Date: February 27, 2025

This week, Malia Thibado delves into why America would benefit from a closer security and economic relationship with Greenland and the different avenues America could take to achieve the relationship.  

Hello and welcome to National Security Matters, the show where we discuss foreign policy, national security, and every individual and organization that is involved in each. I'm your host, Malia Tibido. Recently, Trump has been making comments that have, as usual, raised eyebrows, this time about America, possibly getting Greenland. It has historical precedence. In 1868, William Seward is quoted as saying that Greenland is a... land that could empower the United States to command the commerce of the world. Then in 1941, America effectively took control of Greenland to protect it from invasion from Nazi Germany.

In 1951, America and Denmark signed a military cooperation agreement which gave both countries the ability to form and maintain military bases on the island. They would also provide for the security of the island itself. This is the origin of the Thule Air Base, which is now known as Petufic Space Base. The site is only around 900 miles from the North Pole. It is home to America's advanced missile detection system. In light of recent Chinese and Russian economic and military aggression in the Arctic, the U.S. has renewed its interest. Greenland serves as the buffer between North America and its largest adversaries, Russia, China, and North Korea. Greenland also has deposits of 39 out of 50 materials which are critical for the growth of American economy. The sticky situation with

Aquayan Greenland is twofold. One, it is a Danish territory and two, it is not for sale. Both the Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers have said Greenland is not for sale and never will be for sale. One thing about Greenland is that it is in the middle of a large independence movement. This could be achieved through a vote of the Danish parliament and a referendum of the people of Greenland, 67% of which support independence. One alternative to outright buying the island is for Greenland to enter into a compact of free association with the U.S., which would both preserve Greenland's independence and secure American security and economic interests. In return, the U.S. would be obliged to subsidize the island and give its citizens access to America.

federal programs and job opportunities. However, there is some pushback to this proposal. John Robbock Clemenson, Associate Professor of the Royal Danish Defense College, wrote that even a U.S. Free Association deal would be too strong a commitment. Robert Clemenson believes that any overt move toward an American COFA offer or outright purchase would display American disregard for foreign nation's sovereignty. Both Robert Clemenson and Otto Svensson of the Center of strategic international studies argue the US has already achieved its national security goals in Greenland. Any purchase or official association with Greenland would increase America's burden from its current 50 million investment to at least 700 million, though this is minuscule compared to America's

820 billion military budget. The CSIS analysis, however, focuses on maintaining America's relationship with Denmark. When, and this is when, not if, Greenland declares independence, it will lose its tie to Denmark. Countries like Russia and China will look like beneficial trade partners, especially China with its already established Belt and Road initiative, which connects and develops countries to enlarge China's own global influence. The best option for America to take advantage of Greenland's assets and guard it from our enemies is to make overtures a friendship to both Greenland and Denmark by including them in Norad and Greenland in the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. By bringing Greenland and Denmark into another defense alliance, the U.S. could pacify its European

allies while simultaneously creating a reason to become more involved in Greenland's civilian and military infrastructure. The free trade offered by the USMCA would increase private U.S. business interest in Greenland, providing Americans a new business frontier, especially for mining, By the time Greenland fully decouples from Denmark, it will be so entangled in beneficial American defense and trade agreements that it won't be able to take Russia or Chinese bribes even if it wanted to. This has been National Security Matters on WRFH, Radio Free Hilsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Malia Tibido. Join me next week where we'll discuss Trump again wanting to buy another place this time, Gaza. I'm