“Greenland should consider rejoining the European Union.” MEP Morten Løkkegaard
Hello, February. As spring quickly approaches, so do large events on planet Earth. For some reason, significant events tend to happen in the month of February. Perhaps it‘s because people are finally out of the “welcome to a new year” mindset and feel ready to act and work.
Will this February also bring something that derails the monotony of our daily lives? Hopefully not. Yet, the last week of January has already been a “hot week” for Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen invited the four Nordic leaders into her home to discuss a closer regional relationship. She toured European capitals to drum up support for Greenland’s geopolitical concerns. She also announced a major investment of billions of DKK into Arctic military capabilities.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, the United States has managed to secure an influential supporter among Greenland’s leading politicians — one who is increasingly vocal about pushing for an independence referendum. And in the end, that would be the only way the U.S. could “buy” Greenland. The strategy is simple: buy a local spokesperson, buy votes in a future referendum, buy the acceptance of Greenland’s Parliament, pressure Denmark into acknowledging the results, and grant Greenland brief independence. Then, buy more support, organize another referendum — this time to join the U.S. — and buy the necessary votes. If successful, this would mark the first U.S. territorial expansion in 80 years. A potential legacy for Trump, but a Pandora’s box for the world.
If, at any point, Greenland becomes part of the United States, the global order will shift irreversibly. The world could become an open market where powerful nations feel emboldened to claim territories from weaker ones. International law and institutions would be rendered meaningless, and borders mere lines in the sand — quickly swept away by economic deals, political influence, and various forms of modern warfare.
The people of Europe must recognize that there is only one viable path forward: a stronger and more united European Union. In an increasingly unstable world, where major powers seek to reshape the global status quo, our collective strength is the only safeguard for our way of life. We must stand together, not just for ourselves but for the future of a rules-based international order.
Greenland is frequently in world news at the moment, but much less has been said about the people who live there. Who are they? How do they really feel about the US and Denmark? How can we get involved in improving the lives of people living there? Last Week in Denmark’s reporter Ahmet Akooç gets closer.
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