Trump threatens talk of boosting Greenland security

President-elect Trump’s talk of taking over or acquiring Greenland highlights bipartisan conversations about the need to increase security around the Arctic nation and boost defenses in the region.

The GOP views Trump’s desire for Greenland as a bargaining chip to improve Arctic security tied to his strategy to confront China. Trump has also talked about taking back the Panama Canal, where China controls two of the five ports.

Democrats agree there is room to beef up security in Greenland and the high north, even as they disapprove of Trump’s suggestion he could use military force to seize a nation of about 55,000 people.

“There’s no doubt that Russia is much more present up there and now China is stepping up its game, and they’re acquiring property in Iceland,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.).

“This part of the world is going to become more and more important,” added Courtney, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) subcommittee on sea power.

The Arctic is increasingly contested as climate change melts ice sheets and opens new sea lanes. China, described as a quasi-Arctic power, and Russia, considered an Arctic power along with the US, are increasing activity to compete in the region with US and NATO forces.

Greenland is a strategic island on the northern border overseen by NATO ally Denmark that also has rich minerals for critical technology such as electric vehicles, a market now dominated by China. Greenland has also seen large investments from China in various industries, while Denmark has been criticized for neglecting the island’s security.

Trump, who said he wanted to buy Greenland during his first term, has reiterated his desire to acquire the country and has not ruled out using military force to accomplish his goal.

“We need Greenland for national security purposes. I’ve been told that for a long time, long before I ran,” he told a news conference earlier this month.

Republicans have supported the broad idea of ​​increasing security in the Arctic, though they have shied away from the question of using military force to seize the world’s largest island.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Trump’s comments should not be taken at face value.

“What he’s saying is, like, ‘Look, we’ve got a base there. There are many natural resources. And the Arctic is being exploited by Russia and China,’” said McCaul, who agreed that one way to boost Arctic defenses is to get Denmark to pay more for security.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who will be Trump’s next secretary of state, said at his confirmation hearing that Trump’s Greenland comments were about strategic posturing.

“Putting aside all the things that are going on in the media, I think we have to understand that Greenland has been strategically important to the United States and to the West for a long time,” Rubio said.

“I think now we have an opportunity to see it for what it is, and that’s one, if not the most important, one of the most critical parts of the world over the next 50 to 100 years is whether there’s going to be freedom of navigation in the Arctic and what that will mean for global trade and commerce,” he added.

The US maintains a military facility in Greenland, Pituffik Space Base, which was built in 1951.

It contains America’s northernmost deep-water port, a 10,000-foot runway and is operated by the 821st Space Base Group, which works on force projection, space superiority and scientific research in the Arctic region.

The Pentagon, which has an Office of Arctic and Global Resilience,published its latest Arctic strategy last summer which is primarily focused on improving cooperation with northern allies, increasing training efforts, and accelerating investment in communications and intelligence.

Experts argue that despite commitments, resources have not been put into the Arctic.

A December Center for European Policy Analysis report blamed the US for “persistent gaps” in cold weather equipment, radar coverage and air domain awareness.

He also said that NATO has not adequately addressed a strategy in the region, even though the number of Arctic nations in the alliance increased to 7 with the recent accession of Finland and Sweden.

“A real ‘Arctic awakening’ within NATO structures is still waiting,” the report said. “NATO Needs an Operational Roadmap for the Arctic”.

The United States also intends to build more icebreakers under the Icebreaker Collaborative Effort (ICE) Pact. with Finland and Canada. The Coast Guard, which operates icebreakers, has 12 of the ships, but only two can operate in the Arctic. By comparison, Russia has 41 and China has five.

Courtney said the US has “dropped the ball on the recapitalization of the icebreaker,” but disagrees with Trump’s approach to the situation.

“The ICE Compact between Canada, Finland and the United States is the best way to really address the high north, rather than talking about taking Greenland,” the Democrat said.

Trump’s push for Greenland comes as the country, which is self-governing outside of Denmark’s control over security and foreign policy, is moving toward independence.

Copenhagen has said Greenland must make its own decisions about independence and rejected Trump’s desire to buy the island.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said he was willing to work with the US on defense and trade, but on his own terms.

“This is the first time that Greenland is heard in an intense way. We have to be calm and take advantage of things and be united,” he said in a press conference this week.

Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, led a November report with other researchers saying Greenland wants a greater say in foreign policy and defense, even if it doesn’t immediately become independent.

The report explained that there was a growing opportunity for more US investment to offset historically strong Chinese investment.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers believe there is a serious opportunity to invest more in the Arctic and work with Denmark to boost Greenland.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the Armed Services panel, said the U.S. can work well with either Denmark or Greenland if they become independent.

“I think it is important. Russia and China are certainly involved in many strategic (areas),” Smith said, but cautioned against threatening Denmark over Greenland. “I don’t think owning Greenland is a strategic necessity, but certainly participating in that part of the world is important.”

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