President-elect Trump’s talk of taking over or acquiring Greenland is highlighting bipartisan talks about the need to increase security around the Arctic island and boost defenses in the region.
The GOP views Trump’s desire for Greenland as a negotiating point for enhanced Arctic security linked to his strategy on confronting China. Trump has also discussed taking back the Panama Canal, where China controls two of five ports.
Democrats agree there is room to bolster security in Greenland and the high north, even if they disapprove of Trump’s suggestion he could use military force to take over a nation home to some 55,000 people.
“There’s no question that Russia is much more present up there and China’s now raising their game, and they’re acquiring property in Iceland,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.).
“That part of the world is going to be increasingly important,” added Courtney, ranking member of the seapower subcommittee with the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).
The Arctic is becoming more contested as climate change melts ice sheets and opens up new sea paths. China, which describes itself as a near-Arctic power, and Russia, considered an Arctic power along with the U.S., are ramping up activity to compete in the region with American and NATO forces.
Greenland is a strategic island in the northern frontier overseen by NATO ally Denmark that also has rich minerals for critical technology like electric vehicles, a market that China now dominates. Greenland has also seen heavy investment from China in several industries, while Denmark has been criticized for neglecting the island’s security.
Trump, who said he wanted to buy Greenland during his first term, has reiterated his desire to acquire the country and did not rule out using military force to fulfill his aim.
“We need Greenland for national security purposes. I’ve been told that for a long time, long before I even ran,” he said at a press conference earlier this month.
Republicans have supported the broad idea to increase Arctic security, though they have deflected from the question of using military force to seize the world’s largest island.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), a former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Trump’s comments should not be taken at face value.
“What he’s saying is, like, ‘Look, we got a base there. There are a lot of natural resources. And the Arctic is getting exploited by Russia and China,’” said McCaul, who agreed that one way to boost Arctic defenses is to get Denmark to pay more for security.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is set to be Trump’s next secretary of State, said at his confirmation hearing that Trump’s Greenland comments were about strategic posture.
“Putting aside all the things that are going on in the media, I think we need to understand that Greenland’s been strategically important to the United States and to the West for a very long time,” Rubio said.
“I think now we have the opportunity to see it for what it is, and that is one, if not the most important, one of the most critical parts of the world over the next 50 to 100 years will be whether there’s going to be freedom of navigation in the Arctic and what that will mean for global trade and commerce,” he added.
The U.S. maintains one military installation in Greenland, Pituffik Space Base, which was built in 1951.
It contains America’s northernmost deep-water port, a 10,000-foot runway and is operated by the 821st Space Base Group, which works on force projection, space superiority, and scientific research in the Arctic region.
The Pentagon, which has an Arctic and Global Resilience Office, released its latest Arctic strategy last summer that largely focuses on improving cooperation with northern allies, increasing training efforts and accelerating communication and intelligence investment.
Experts argue that despite the commitments, the resources have not been put into the Arctic.
A December Center for European Policy Analysis report faulted the U.S. for “persistent gaps” with cold weather gear, radar coverage and aerial domain awareness.
It also said NATO has not properly addressed a strategy in the region, even as the number of Arctic nations in the alliance increased to 7 with the recent accession of Finland and Sweden.
“A genuine ‘Arctic awakening’ within NATO structures still awaits.,” the report said. “NATO needs an operational roadmap for the Arctic.”
The U.S. is also aiming to build more icebreaker ships under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact with Finland and Canada. The Coast Guard, which operates icebreakers, has 12 of the ships, but only two able to operate in the Arctic. By comparison, Russia has 41 and China has five.
Courtney said the U.S. has “dropped the ball in terms of icebreaker recapitalization” but disagreed with Trump’s approach to the situation.
“The ICE Pact between Canada, Finland and the U.S. is the best way to really address the high north, rather than talking about taking Greenland,” the Democrat said.
Trump’s push for Greenland comes as the country, which is self-governed outside of Denmark’s control over security and foreign policy, is moving toward independence.
Copenhagen has said Greenland must make its own decisions on independence and has pushed back against Trump’s desire to buy the island.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said he was willing to work with the U.S. on defense and trade but on their own terms.
“This is the first time Greenland has been listened to in an intense way. We need to be calm and take advantage of things and stand together,” he said at a press conference this week.
Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, led a November report with other researchers that said Greenland wants a bigger say in foreign policy and defense even if it doesn’t become immediately independent.
The report explained there was a widening opportunity for more U.S. investment to counter historically strong Chinese investment.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers believe there is a serious opportunity to invest more in the Arctic and work with Denmark to boost Greenland.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Armed Services panel, said the U.S. can work just fine with Denmark or with Greenland if they become independent.
“I think it is important. Russia and China certainly are involved in many strategic [areas],” Smith said, but cautioned against threatening Denmark over Greenland. “I don’t think owning Greenland is a strategic necessity, but certainly being engaged in that part of the world is important.”
