An aircraft carrying Donald Trump Jr., son of U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives in Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Emil Stach / Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty ImagesArticle content
Less than a day after the U.S. launched air strikes against Venezuela and captured its president, U.S. President Donald Trump started spouting off about his desire to take over Greenland, highlighting the fundamental problem with his approach to foreign affairs: while many of his policies — such as imposing tariffs on China and toppling Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro — could strengthen the West and weaken its enemies, his propensity to impose equally punitive measures on friendly nations has us continually fighting among ourselves, playing right into the hands of our adversaries.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor
Article content
Article content
Trump claims that the U.S. needs Greenland, a self-governing autonomous territory of Denmark, for “national security” reasons, and he’s not entirely wrong. The U.S. tried numerous times in the past to purchase the world’s largest island, most recently in 1946, but ultimately concluded a 1951 defence pact with Denmark that allowed it to establish a military base to guard against Soviet missile attacks during the Cold War.
Article content
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
At its height, the Thule Air Base in northwestern Greenland, now known as Pituffik Space Base, housed 6,000 U.S. military personnel. That footprint was reduced as the Cold War came to a close, and it is now home to just 150 service members. But in recent years, the strategic importance of the Arctic has once again come into focus.
Article content
As Arctic ice melts, it will continue to open the Far North to shipping and exploitation of its vast mineral wealth. But the region is hotly contested by the various northern states, who know that dominion over the Arctic will ultimately not be decided in the halls of the United Nations, but by which countries can control the region through military force.
Article content
Article content
Russia’s spent the past two decades constructing the world’s largest fleet of icebreakers and building northern ports equipped with surveillance systems, air and naval defences, and airfields. And, like Washington’s raid on Caracas, Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine put the world on notice that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not afraid of using force to achieve his aims. China has also been building its presence in the North, having unilaterally declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018.
Article content
Article content
Greenland is strategically located, serving as the gateway to the Northwest Passage, and straddling the GIUK gap, the naval choke point between North America and Europe. The island is therefore critical for guarding against missile attacks from hostile northern states like Russia, controlling ships sailing between the Atlantic and Pacific, and preventing naval incursions into the southern Atlantic.
Article content
As per usual, the Trump administration has been using a “flood the zone” strategy when it comes to Greenland, sending mixed messages in an attempt to keep everyone on their toes. On Sunday, Trump told reporters that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships,” and suggested Denmark was not up to the task of doing anything about it.