Trump's US Threat to Greenland (which belongs to Denmark)

[steenkh]

I'm pretty sure it takes more than a head of one country asking the inhabitants of a foreign territory if they'd like to join. Nations tend to take territorial claims seriously. Does anyone imagine that if Canada's PM invited Alaska to join Canada that they could say "yes" and it would happen?

The relationship between Denmark and Greenland is a little different. If the Greenlandic parliament decided to secede and join the U.S., I am pretty sure that it would happen. Greenland has more or less been promised independence if they really want it.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

Well, it did come out rather differently.

Well, the crux of it is that if Trump and Greenland reach a deal then the Danish PM can go to .... bed.

 

[Hlafordlaes]

Quite sure the poor folk of Greenland would be Gaza-ed in a jiffy, corralled and silenced while the earth movers do their thing. What horrors await anyone falling under American imperial rule. Let us recall: the USA is complicit in genocide and has announced a plan for Gaza equal to anything the Nazis did.

"Manifest Villainy, for the win!"

 

[steenkh]

Well, the crux of it is that if Trump and Greenland reach a deal then the Danish PM can go to .... bed.

And the crux of the matter is that so can the U.S. president if - as is quite clear at the moment - the Greenlanders do not want to be treated like the native Americans, or like Puerto Ricans, or Virgin Islanders. Which is not what you are saying at all.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

And the crux of the matter is that so can the U.S. president if - as is quite clear at the moment - the Greenlanders do not want to be treated like the native Americans, or like Puerto Ricans, or Virgin Islanders. Which is not what you are saying at all.

That has nothing to do with it.

 

[dann]

From post 793:

Yeah, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, makes a good attempt at supporting the current administration:
1:42--> Sands: "You know, I just read it in the paper like you did, John. It's a surprise to me, but as a matter of fact, I wouldn't call it spying. I mean, Denmark and Greenland are great allies of the United States. I would just call it learning about Greenland, the Greenlandic people. They're wonderful, but a lot of Americans including in the US government don't know much about Greenland."

If the U.S. intelligence agencies were simply trying to get to learn about the wonderful Greenlanders, I don't see why Tulsi Gabbard would be so busy accusing people within those agencies of "leaking and politicizing classified information" (see post 791). Why get up in arms if all they had been told to do was to help a notoriously knowledgable and inquisitive president learn more about the ways and customs of the indigenous population of Greenland?

I usually disagree with Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA officer retired due to 'Havana syndrome', but I don't do so in this context - and it's not because the waste of "precious intelligence resources" concerns me much:

U.S. spy agencies told to gather intelligence on Greenland (NBC News, May 10, 2025)
It was unclear why the administration was turning to espionage to glean information on a U.S. ally that could likely be obtained by diplomats or open-source research, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former career CIA officer.
“This seems to be something that could be handled by diplomatic and State Department channels,” he said. “Why would you waste precious intelligence resources on this?”

There are now a couple of Wikipedia pages about this issue:
Proposed United States acquisition of Greenland: 21st century (this one is very long)
American expansionism under Donald Trump: Greenland

 

[Clutch Cargo]

It is a matter between Greenland and the US. Danmark should keep its nose out of it.

Danmark is in Europe.
Greenland is in North America.

 

[Hercules56]

It is a matter between Greenland and the US. Danmark should keep its nose out of it.

Danmark is in Europe.
Greenland is in North America.

Greenland is 100% Danish territory. It belongs to them.

 

[arthwollipot]

Danmark is in Europe.
Greenland is in North America.

Tectonically, this is true. But tectonically, a huge chunk of Eastern Russia is also "in" North America, ie. part of the North American Plate. Are there plans to invade Kamchatka now? What other countries base their borders according to tectonic plates?

 

[Clutch Cargo]

It is a matter between Greenland and the US. Danmark should keep its nose out of it.

Danmark is in Europe.
Greenland is in North America.

Tectonically ......................

Tectonical Facts FOR YOUR INFORMATION

DANMARK Capital: Copenhagen Official language: Danish Population: 5.947 million (2023) World Bank Continent: Europe

GREENLAND Capital: Nuuk Official language: Greenlandic Population: 56,865 (2023) World Bank Continent: North America

But ...

There is no "but".

 

[arthwollipot]

I notice that you have no source for your table. I think you just made it up.

Anyway, just because it's on the same continent doesn't mean it's the same country. There are many countries on the African continent, the Asian continent and the European continent. In fact, the only country that occupies its entire continent is Australia. What continent a country happens to be on has jack all to do with its national sovereignty. Greenland has been part of Denmark for two hundred years, and has been culturally and politically part of the European states for a thousand. The United States has no business there.

If you ask me, that's a very big but. I like big buts, and I cannot lie.

 

[dann]

Tectonical Facts FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Ah, the old nature argument!
'But Langtbortistan is on our side of the river!'

Clutch Cargo hasn't noticed that nobody gives a ◊◊◊◊ about continents.
Not even Trump, who never heard of tectonic plates.
If he ever heard the term, he would probably think that it's what kiviak is served on in Nuuk.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

I notice that you have no source for your table.

I drew the table up from memory and my own personal experience travelling round the world. But if you like I can fact check it and send you a linked source. Would that be OK?

I think you just made it up.

Do you?

Anyway, just because it's on the same continent doesn't mean it's the same country.

I don't understand your logic. It doesn't seem to agree with the general world opinion. I can think of many examples if you like. Shall I do that for you?

There are many countries on the African continent, the Asian continent and the European continent.

There are nearly 200 recognised countries round the world.

What continent a country happens to be on has jack all to do with its national sovereignty.

You think not?

If you ask me, that's a very big but. I like big buts, and I cannot lie.

So, it's true that you think I made up the tectonic table in my last post?

 

[Clutch Cargo]

Ah, the old nature argument!

Yes, the old tried and true nature argument!

 

[dann]

I am not at all surprised that Clutch Cargo appeals to nature.
He does so for the same reason that he leaves out the USA when he mentions capitals, languages and population sizes:
Capital: Nuuk
Official language: Greenlandic
Population: 56,865 (2023) World Bank

 

[arthwollipot]

I don't understand your logic.

Clearly.

It doesn't seem to agree with the general world opinion. I can think of many examples if you like. Shall I do that for you?

Many examples of countries that occupy an entire continent? There is only one example. I already gave it to you.

There are nearly 200 recognised countries round the world.

On five, six, or seven continents, depending on how many you recognise.

You think not?

I do, indeed, think not. On what continent is the island of New Guinea? On what continent is Kazakhstan? Is Türkiye part of Asia or Europe?

So, it's true that you think I made up the tectonic table in my last post?

You said you made it up. That you happened to be right is irrelevant. A stopped clock is right twice a day.

Regardless, which continent a country is on has jack all to do with its sovereignty. You want the United States to usurp the sovereignty of an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, in defiance of the wishes of the people of Denmark and in defiance of the wishes of the people of Greenland. Trump has said that he is willing to use military force to annex this sovereign territory. You know what they call that? Invasion. Occupation. A declaration of war. No. The United States has no right in international law or in common sense to this territory.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

Many examples of countries that occupy an entire continent?

Yes, I'm sure that's what I said.

You said you made it up.

What is it I said that I made up?

You want the United States to usurp .... Greenland.

Hej! Now now that might be a good idea!

The United States has no right in international law or in common sense to this territory.

They have as much right as anyone else. Do you agree?

 

[Mojo]

Quite true. And if Trump want Greenland, and the Grønlændere don’t want a deal with him, then the president of the United States can go screw himself invade and have them all deported to El Salvador, or maybe Libya.

FTFY

 

[Planigale]

Why are you all ignoring the Elephant in the room?

Trump is paranoid because annually a covert hypersonic smuggling mission is launched from Greenland that overflies the US and has proved impossible to intercept. He is after this technology, and to ensure tariffs are paid by all the good little girls and boys.

He probably also wants the North Pole for display outside of the White House.

 

[steenkh]

They have as much right as anyone else. Do you agree?

They actually have no right whatsoever. According to internal law - and previous treaties with the U.S. - it belongs to Denmark. As it happens, Denmark recognises the right of Greenland to become independent - a right that I doubt the U.S. would grant to any current state.