Opened a consulate and form a fleet of icebreakers: the United States does not abandon attempts to control Greenland
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo made a statement on the occasion of the opening of the American consulate in Nuuk in Greenland on June 10, writes "Voice of America".
According to Pompeo, this event "reflects the commitment of America to strengthen cooperation with the inhabitants of Greenland and the entire Kingdom of Denmark."
“Our presence in Nuuk will enhance the prosperity we share with our friends in Denmark and Greenland, while we work with other allies and partners in the Arctic to ensure stability and sustainability in the region,” Pompeo said. “We thank our many partners in Denmark and Greenland for their assistance in making this important step towards strengthening our cooperation.”
As you know, US President Trump last year expressed the idea of acquiring the island from Denmark.
In addition to the availability of valuable natural resources, observers note that Greenland has defensive value for the United States, because an American military base is already located there.
“Less than 1000 miles from the North Pole, Tul Air Base on the northwest coast warns of missile strikes and helps the U.S. government monitor and control space,” according to a Forbes article on the subject.
The idea of selling Greenland was rejected in Denmark.
“Greenland is rich in valuable resources, including minerals, clean water, ice, fish, marine life, renewable energy and new frontiers in tourism adventure. We are open for business, not for trade,” the Danish government said at the time.
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea “absurd” and said: “Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is NOT Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland."
The US president then canceled the planned visit to Denmark.
“Denmark is a special country with wonderful people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comment that she is not interested in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will postpone our meeting, which was supposed to take place in two weeks, to another time,” he wrote then Trump on Twitter.
Then he answered with humor to the fears of critics about the intentions of the United States in relation to Greenland.
“I promise not to do this in Greenland!” - the US President wrote on Twitter along with an image of the golden “Trump Tower” in Las Vegas superimposed on a photo of the Greenlandic settlement.
Trump ordered the construction of an icebreaker flotilla by the end of the decade
Donald Trump has set the task for US agencies to create a flotilla of icebreakers and build military bases in order to advance US interests in the Arctic and Antarctic, reports "Voice of America".
This is stated in a memorandum issued on June 9 to "ensure US national interests in the Arctic and Antarctic" and addressed to the State Department and the US Department of Homeland Security and Trade.
The memorandum prescribes "to develop options in the Arctic to fulfill a wide range of tasks to ensure national and economic security (including assistance in the development of natural resources, laying and repair of submarine cables)."
According to the memorandum, US departments must provide a plan within 60 days, which would include the construction of at least three icebreakers by 2029, as well as four military bases to support this activity, including two bases outside the United States.
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Alaskan Republican Senator Dan Sullivan welcomed Trump's decision, noting that it will help the US strengthen its position in the region.
“Our adversaries are significantly ahead of the United States in terms of infrastructure in the Arctic,” Defense News quotes Sullivan. “We have only one heavy and one medium icebreaker of the Polar class.”
Now the United States has one heavy icebreaker, while Russia has 40 icebreakers, Finland has 7, and Canada and Sweden have 6 icebreakers each, the Guardian writes.
As ForumDaily wrote earlier:
- On August 16 last year, Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark as an autonomous territory.
- Denmark stated that it did not intend to sell the island. In response, the American leader canceled a previously scheduled visit to Copenhagen.
- Why did Trump need Greenland, and how much did he offer for her?
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