“Since World War II, we have a principle of self -determination.” The Greenlanders want this

Donald Trump was enthusiastic about Greenland, not because of its specific charms.

– Look. You don't even need binoculars. Look around. There are Chinese ships everywhere. There are vessels of Russia everywhere. We will not let it happen. I am talking about the protection of the free world – said the President of the United States Donald Trump, who said many times that he wants to take control of Greenland.

These types of declarations meant that the island of less than 58,000 people suddenly became one of the key elements on the new geopolitical map of the world. However, when we look at history, it turns out that this is not the first time Greenland is interested in the world's greatest powers, including the United States.

Premium text: Demand for Greenland. Why Trump (and not only him) wants the island

This is due to two things – location and natural resources hidden under the surface. Let's start with the latter. Recent studies have shown that 25 out of 34 minerals recognized by the European Commission as “critical raw materials” were found in Greenland, including the so -called elements of rare lands. To this you need to add substantial oil resources.

This formally subject to Denmark is actually located much closer to the United States than Denmark, and the flight to New York from its main airport lasts almost half of the shorter than to Copenhagen.

Added to this is a geopolitical context – Greenland is on the one hand a gate to the entire Arctic, on the other hand, an ideal place to arrange anti -cancer defense systems on it, in the case of attacks, for example, from Russia. In addition, as part of the kingdom of Denmark, it formally belongs to NATO.

– During World War II, the United States ran a huge number of bases there, and even more during the Cold War. There were over 10,000 American soldiers in Greenland. There is currently one base, Thule Air Base, and I think there are about 300 American soldiers. And that's all – says Ulrik Pram Gad, a researcher from the Danish Institute of International Relations.

Before Donald Trump, the Americans tried to redeem Greenland three times. For the first time in the 19th century. Today the topic is coming back, and with it a question about the fate of the island and its inhabitants.

– Since World War II, we have the principle of self -determination for colonized nations. If anyone was to sell Greenland, they would be the Greenlanders, and they would not sell it as a piece of property. At most, they could conclude a business agreement with Trump, under which he would pay an annual subsidy for the island's budget – indicates Ulrik Pram Gad.

Read also: Greenland reacts to the visit of the US delegation. “Very aggressive”

What do the inhabitants of Greenland think about all the confusion? They recently had the opportunity to speak on the occasion of elections to the local parliament. Democrats won them, a center -right group, whose leader during the campaign emphasized the law of the Greenlanders to self -determination.

– We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders – says Jens Frederik Nielsen, a Greenland politician, leader of the Democraci party.

American attempts to the island also aroused a lot of stir in Copenhagen. Emotions increased even more after Donald Trump allowed himself an open criticism of Denmark and threatened her duties in the event of refusal to sell Greenland.

– From the West's perspective, we have a clear interest in the United States play a big role in this region, and not, for example, Russia or other countries. But Greenland is the property of the Greenland nation – indicates Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark.

However, the signal that flows from Washington is clear. Greenland is to be part of the American zone of influence, and what may be subject to any negotiations is the issue of the price that the United States will have to pay for it.

– If you need to be interested in a region of Greenland for our national security, President Trump will do it. Because he doesn't care what Europeans shout to us. He celebrates the benefit of American citizens – says JD Vance, Vice President of the United States.

This week, Greenland is to visit, among others, the wife of vice president JD Vance with his son. Officially, it is to be a private visit, and it's about seeing the dog sled race. The media, however, point out that this delegation also includes an adviser to the American President for Security and Energy Secretary. In response to these reports, Prime Minister Greenland called the whole journey “interference in the island and its inhabitants' internal affairs.”