Why Trump Wants Greenland—And Why He Probably Won't Get It | TIME
Donald Trump spent a noteworthy chunk of the transition period provoking controversy—and insulting NATO allies—with his proposals for expanding the U.S. Maybe most prominently, he has repeatedly discussed buying Greenland from Denmark, a stance he robustly reaffirmed on his first day in office, earlier this week.
While American expansion hasn’t been discussed much in recent times, the proposal to buy Greenland makes more sense if one understands the history of the Arctic. Buying the island would aim to counter Russian and Chinese ambitions to dominate a region critical to Washington. And it would only be the latest chapter in a long history of the U.S.—and during its existence, the Soviet Union—purchasing land across the Arctic in moments of heightened tensions.
Today’s renewed interest signals that great powers are once again seeking to control vital sea routes, oceans, islands, and resources at the top of the world. It’s a stark warning of rising tensions and increased competition. Yet, just as his counterparts did in the past, Trump may find that "buying the Arctic" is not as straightforward as he thinks.
In 1865, in the wake of the Civil War, the U.S. began looking to expand its influence on the world stage. This happened at precisely the moment when Russia, having just lost the Crimean War, was seeking to counterbalance British power in the Pacific. This proved to be the perfect recipe for American expansion in the Arctic.
In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million, with the territory soon placed under the control of the U.S. Army. Both countries shared hostility towards Britain, so the sale was a shrewd and calculated deal for both parties. Although it ended Russia’s footprint in North America, it expanded Washington's access to the Pacific and helped counter British activity in the strategically important and economically prosperous region. This was just the start of America’s foray into the Arctic.
The move was part of President Andrew Johnson’s naked and vast geopolitical ambition. Having successfully purchased Alaska, Johnson’s Secretary of State William Seward floated the prospect of buying the islands of Greenland and Iceland, this