The United States plan for Greenland. As Washington wants to attract the island into its area of influence
Greenland, photo: yongyut kumsri, dreamstime.com
US officials discuss a plan to attract Greenland in the American area of influence using a type of agreement that the US used to maintain close links with several Pacific island states, two US officials and another person close to the discussions told Reuters.
According to the plan, the Trump administration would propose to Greenland leaders to enter into a free association agreement with the United States.
COFA type agreements – which have been used for three states in Oceania: Micronesia, Marshall and Palau – varies from country to country, but the standard is for the US government to provide many of the essential services, from the delivery of the post to the management of emergency and military protection. In contrast, the US army acts unstring in the Topa countries, and trade with the United States is close to customs duties.
A model applied to the Pacific
A custom agreement would not transform the island of 57,000 inhabitants part of the United States. But this is not the only American plan, especially since they could have some obstacles.
The COFA agreements so far have been signed with independent countries, and Greenland should separate from Denmark for such a plan to be applied. Although polls show that Greenlands are interested in independence, they do not want to be part of the US. A trick, through which a significant part of autonomy would be given to Washington, could be viewed with similar skepticism.
The already existing custom understandings are considered in the political sphere in the United States as having an important role in counteracting China's growing influence in Asia Pacific.
But these agreements also have problems. The Republican congressmans opposed several times to budgetary allocations to finance the COFA agreements, generating deep frustrations in these countries that depend on American funds.
Also, the signing of a custom does not provide the guarantee that a country will be immune to influence operations from the US rivals. In April, Reuters reported that Chinese citizens have successfully cultivated close ties with political leaders in Palau, alarming American officials.
The Danish leaders were not approached about the Cofa project and there were no substantial discussions with the White House regarding the future status of Greenland, a European official said. Denmark has publicly rejected the idea that the US to buy Greenland and insist that its inhabitants have to establish their future alone.
The Trump administration claims that the island is of crucial importance to the US due to mineral deposits that have important applications in the high-tech and military industry, but remain unexploited due to the lack of workforce, reduced infrastructure and other problems.
The United States helps Groenland diversify its economy and gain greater economic independence from the Danish metropolis, said an American official who wanted to keep his anonymity. The Tanbreez project intends to exploit the rare minerals on the island and their processing in the United States.
