What's behind Trump's interest in buying Greenland?

History tells us that in 1941, the United States occupied Greenland to avoid a possible invasion of the island by the Nazis after the occupation of Denmark by the Germans, a situation that lasted until the end of the Second World War, in 1945.

In 1951, under Harry Truman's presidency, the US built Thule's strategic air base in Greenland, which became particularly important during the Cold War.

At that time, Truman offered Denmark $ 100 million to buy the island in northeastern Canada, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Its geographic area is 2.1 million square kilometers, making it the largest island in the world. However, it is inhabited by only about 56,000 people, mostly Inuit.

Its territory is rich in natural resources and of negligible geostrategic value. Coal, zinc, copper, gold, ruby, uranium and iron ore abound. In addition, it has reserves of gas and oil.

However, 80% of its surface is covered with ice, a white coat that is not outside the ravages of global warming. A few years ago, scientists discovered a reserve of 140 billion tonnes of water resulting from the thaw.

Its equidistant position between major US and Soviet population centers made Greenland a coveted real estate badet for Pentagon strategists during the Cold War.

However, today, the island is also the scene of power struggles between the United States and China, who have been trying to penetrate this territory for years. The Pentagon reported The Wall Street Journal, managed to prevent last year that China finances three airports on the island.

Politically, Greenland belongs to Denmark, although it is an autonomous territory that since 2009 manages all the skills except foreign policy, defense and monetary policy.

The independence of the Danes is an issue that has been discussed on the island.

Yesterday, according to several US media reports, Donald Trump asked his White House advisers to find out if it was possible to buy it. How much would it cost? Analysts say that, based on their GDP ($ 2.7 billion in 2016), their final price would be $ 1.7 billion.

The Washington Post He said that the White House had already discussed the legality of the hypothetical purchase, the process of integrating a territory with its own government and the source of funds for the acquisition .

CNN, for its part, said that billionaire Trump, who made a fortune in real estate development, asked White House lawyer Pat Cipollone to study this possibility.

Both media said the tycoon's advisers are divided between those who believe the president wants to buy Greenland and those who regard it as a whim.

Rejection

Known information, Danish political leaders have called the proposal "crazy" and "improbable".

"It's true that (Trump) is working on this idea, it's the ultimate proof that he's insane. The idea that Denmark can sell 50,000 of its citizens to the United States is absolutely crazy, "said Soren Jespersen of the Danish People's Party, in statements collected by the newspaper Jyllands Posten.

"Of all the things that are not going to happen, it's the most unlikely. Forget it! "Stressed the deputy of the conservative People's Party, Rasmus Jarlov, while the former Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen had hinted that it was a" joke day joke " in April totally out of season, "he said. Russia today.

"Greenland is not sold! The times when it was possible to buy territories and people are gone, "said local politician Michael Aastrup.