Trump's claims on Greenland threaten the island's sovereignty. What the negotiators are saying, behind closed doors
Donald Trump's negotiators want the US to have a major role in Greenland, something that worries officials on the Arctic island and those in Copenhagen, which controls the foreign policy of the self-governing Danish territory, writes the New York Times.
An investigation by The New York Times shows, among other things, that the United States is trying to change an existing military agreement to ensure that American troops can remain in Greenland indefinitely, even if the island gains independence – a permanency clause that Greenlanders do not agree to.
But Washington has broadened the talks beyond military matters and wants an effective veto over any major investment deals in Greenland to exclude Russia and China. Greenlanders and Danes strongly oppose this.
At the same time, the Pentagon is moving ahead with military expansion plans and recently sent a Marine Corps officer to Narsarsuaq, a town in southern Greenland, to inspect the World War II-era airport, harbor and sites where US troops could be housed.
Fears of the Greenlanders
The American demands are so high, Greenlandic officials fear, that they represent a major violation of their sovereignty.
“If the Americans get everything they want,” said Justus Hansen, a member of the Greenland Parliament, quoted by the New York Times, “there will never be 'true independence'.”
Negotiators have met about five times in Washington since January, when Trump threatened to seize Greenland, saying it was essential to American national security.
Although he eventually gave up on that idea and became absorbed in the conflict in Iran, the White House has indicated that he remains deeply interested in Greenland.
Greenlanders have repeatedly emphasized that they do not want to be part of the United States, but Greenlandic politicians say they are okay with the presence of more US troops on their territory.
Thousands of American soldiers were stationed there during World War II and the Cold War, although the United States eventually closed all but one of the bases.
With an eye on China
Officials with knowledge of the talks said the Americans are pushing for a strict veto and veto mechanism to ensure Russia or China do not make any major infrastructure or resource deals.
Although China is hundreds of kilometers away from the Arctic Circle, it has become increasingly active in the region and has tried to penetrate Greenland in the past as well.
In 2018, a Chinese state-owned company was one of the leading candidates to build several new airports on the island, including one in Ilulissat, where thousands of visitors come each year to admire the icebergs.
After US officials pressured Denmark to step in, Greenland opted for a Danish company.
Officials with knowledge of the current talks said Denmark and Greenland do not want the United States to make decisions on investment deals, arguing that would infringe on Greenland's sovereignty.
In recent decades, Greenland has gradually gained more autonomy from Denmark, and most of the island's inhabitants want to become independent one day.
But Greenland lacks the intelligence-gathering capability to check whether potential investors have ties to Moscow and Beijing. Negotiators are therefore discussing a process by which Copenhagen would carry out the verification, with US input.
