HISTORY133 - Greenland and the Trump-Caused International Crisis
Greenland has risen to prominence lately because of U.S. President Trump’s aggressively renewed efforts to acquire Greenland, framing it as a vital U.S. national security and economic goal to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic . I knew little of the history of Greenland (or the history of U.S. interest in the island), so I thought it would be good, timely subject for a blog. After an (uncharacteristically long for me) introduction, I will discuss the history of Greenland in these historical periods: first inhabitants, the Norse settlements, the association with Denmark and Norway, the association with Denmark, historic U.S. interests, and the “Greenland Crisis,” caused by recent Trump assertions. I will conclude with a look at future options to resolve the “Greenland Crisis.” As usual, I will list my principal sources at the end. Introduction Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. It ...
