COULD TRUMP SEIZE GREENLAND?
Militarily, there’s little that might cease the US from making an attempt to grab Greenland.
Politically and legally, nevertheless, the implications could be “era-defining”, mentioned Assistant Professor William James from the S Rajaratnam College of Worldwide Research (RSIS).
Though Greenland shouldn’t be an unbiased member of NATO, it’s lined by Denmark’s membership of the Western navy alliance, of which the US can be a member.
Any use of drive would put the NATO allies towards each other.
“If the US decides to navy assault one other NATO nation, then all the things would cease – that features NATO and subsequently post-World Warfare II safety,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned.
She added that the US already has in depth navy entry to Greenland below present agreements.
“I must say this very on to the US,” Frederiksen mentioned in an announcement on Sunday. “The US has no proper to annex any of the three international locations of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Whereas the Trump administration has lengthy blamed Venezuela’s authorities for stoking regional instability and fuelling drug trafficking, neither Greenland nor Denmark presents a risk to US safety.
ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR TRUMP?
Affiliate Professor Reuben Wong of the Nationwide College of Singapore mentioned it could be arduous to think about the US Congress agreeing to navy motion or intervention in Greenland.
“A extra possible choice is that Greenland or Denmark can be pressured to make concessions to US pursuits (with regard to) the island’s uncommon earth and oil assets,” he advised CNA.
RSIS’ Dr James mentioned that any try by the US to accumulate Greenland would “virtually definitely” observe a interval of coercive diplomacy and a few type of monetary association.
“A lot of US territory was traditionally gained via buy (eg, the Louisiana buy from France; Alaska from Russia), and Trump seems to imagine that everybody and all the things has a value. As issues stand, nevertheless, each Denmark and Greenland present little curiosity in such a deal,” he mentioned.
“It is usually price remembering that Greenland workouts in depth self-government. Any authorized switch would require the consent of Greenlanders in addition to Danes.”
