Greenland: Where is the territory and who controls it?

US President-elect Donald Trump has repeated his intention to take management of Greenland, the Arctic territory managed by Denmark.

Why is Trump speaking about this – and why now?

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is situated within the Arctic.

It’s the world’s most sparsely populated territory. About 56,000 folks dwell there, principally indigenous Inuit folks.

About 80% of its territory is roofed by ice, that means most individuals dwell on the south-western coast across the capital, Nuuk.

An autonomous territory of Denmark, it is usually house to Danish and US army bases.

The economic system is especially based mostly on fishing. Giant subsidies from the Danish authorities account for a few fifth of GDP.

In recent times, there was elevated curiosity in Greenland’s pure sources, together with mining for uncommon earth minerals, uranium and iron. These could turn into extra accessible as international warming results in among the ice overlaying Greenland to soften.

Positioned geographically inside North America, Greenland has been managed by Denmark – practically 3,000km (1,860 miles) away – for about 300 years.

The island was ruled as a colony till the mid-Twentieth Century. For a lot of this time, it remained remoted and poor.

In 1953, it was made a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders grew to become Danish residents.

In 1979, a referendum on house rule gave Greenland management of most insurance policies inside the territory, with Denmark retaining management over international affairs and defence.

The US has lengthy maintained a safety curiosity in Greenland. After Nazi Germany occupied mainland Denmark throughout World Struggle II, the US invaded Greenland, establishing army and radio stations throughout the territory.

After the conflict, US forces remained in Greenland. Pituffik Area Base, previously often called Thule Air Base, has been operated by the US ever since.

In 1951, a defence settlement with Denmark granted the US a major function within the defence of the territory, together with the best to construct and preserve army bases.

“If Russia have been to ship missiles in the direction of the US, the shortest route for nuclear weapons can be through the North Pole and Greenland,” mentioned Marc Jacobsen, an affiliate professor on the Royal Danish Defence Faculty.

“That is why the Pituffik Area Base is immensely essential in defending the US.”

Trump can also be seemingly within the mining potential throughout Greenland’s huge landmass, Mr Jacobsen added.

“Right this moment, of particular curiosity are the uncommon earth minerals, which haven’t but been mined however are within the southern a part of Greenland. These are immensely essential in all types of applied sciences, from cell telephones to wind generators.”

Trump has claimed that management of Greenland is important to US nationwide and financial safety.

Although the president-elect’s rhetoric could seen uncommon, for over a century a succession of US presidents have tried to achieve management of Greenland.

“The US has tried a couple of instances to push the Danes out of Greenland and take it over as a part of the US, or no less than to have full safety tutelage of Greenland,” mentioned Lukas Wahden, the writer of 66° North, a e-newsletter on Arctic safety.

In 1867, after shopping for Alaska from Russia, US Secretary of State William H Seward led negotiations to purchase Greenland from Denmark, however failed to succeed in any settlement.

In 1946, the US provided to pay $100m (equal to $1.2bn; £970m right now) for the territory, judging that it was very important for nationwide safety, however the Danish authorities refused.

Trump additionally tried to purchase Greenland throughout his first time period. Each Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: “Greenland is just not on the market.”

Kuno Fencker, a member of the Inatsisartut, the Greenlandic parliament, mentioned on Wednesday that he did not see Trump’s feedback as a risk.

Fencker, who helps Greenlandic independence, instructed the PJDM {that a} sovereign Greenland might select to co-operate with the US on defence.

However when Trump first raised the thought of shopping for Greenland in 2019, many locals told the PJDM they have been against the proposal.

“It is a very harmful thought,” mentioned Dines Mikaelsen, a tour operator who was born and raised in Tasiilaq, east Greenland.

“He is treating us like an excellent he should purchase,” mentioned Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s first feminine prime minister.

“He isn’t even speaking to Greenland – he is speaking to Denmark about shopping for Greenland.”