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Started By
Message
NYT: We can expand Greenland forces right now.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:08 am
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:08 am
The New York Times reported President Trump already has the authority to vastly expand our military presence in Greenland.
New York Times
quote:
But the question is: Does the United States even need to buy Greenland — or do something more drastic — to accomplish all of Mr. Trump’s goals?
Under a little-known Cold War agreement, the United States already enjoys sweeping military access in Greenland. Right now, the United States has one base in a very remote corner of the island. But the agreement allows it to “construct, install, maintain, and operate” military bases across Greenland, “house personnel” and “control landings, takeoffs, anchorages, moorings, movements, and operation of ships, aircraft, and waterborne craft.”
It was signed in 1951 by the United States and Denmark, which colonized Greenland more than 300 years ago and still controls some of its affairs.
“The U.S. has such a free hand in Greenland that it can pretty much do what it wants,” said Mikkel Runge Olesen, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen.
“I have a very hard time seeing that the U.S. couldn’t get pretty much everything it wanted,” he said, adding, “if it just asked nicely.”...
The relatively short, straightforward defense agreement between the United States and Denmark was updated in 2004 to include Greenland’s semiautonomous government, giving it a say in how American military operations might affect the local population. The roots of the agreement go back to a partnership forged during World War II....
According to the 2004 amendment, the United States is supposed to consult with Denmark and Greenland before it makes “any significant changes” in its military operations on the island. The 2004 amendment, which was signed by Gen. Colin L. Powell, who was then the secretary of state, explicitly recognizes Greenland as “an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, a Danish defense analyst, said that in practice, if American forces made reasonable requests, “the U.S. would always get a yes.”
“It is a courtesy formula,” he said. “If the U.S. wanted to act without asking, it could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
That’s what infuriates longtime Danish political experts. If Mr. Trump wanted to beef up Greenland’s security right now, he could. But there has been no such official American request, said Jens Adser Sorensen, a former senior official in Denmark’s Parliament....
New York Times
This post was edited on 1/20/26 at 9:09 am
12
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:11 am to prplhze2000
quote:
“It is a courtesy formula,” he said. “If the U.S. wanted to act without asking, it could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
America got tired of asking. Now we just take things. Deal with it Greenlander.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:13 am to prplhze2000
more flies with honey
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:14 am to prplhze2000
why would we spend all this money to build a defense system to defend europe, canada, and the US when the property isnt ours. they literally just threated to kick us out of all of our bases in europe.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:14 am to boogiewoogie1978
quote:
more flies with honey
Trump is applying the carrot and the stick method.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:14 am to idlewatcher
Look I get we can basically do what we want in Greenland but what these experts are missing is exactly what you said. I think Trump want's Denmark to defend Greenland or give it up because China or Russia will take it in a day.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:15 am to idlewatcher
Most Republicans have lost their damn minds. 
Amazing how easily they went from America First, no new foreign entanglements, etc. to the complete opposite when the cult leader has a mood swing.
Amazing how easily they went from America First, no new foreign entanglements, etc. to the complete opposite when the cult leader has a mood swing.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:16 am to Decatur
quote:
Most Republicans have lost their damn minds.
That’s interesting coming from a Democrat.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:17 am to prplhze2000
Three words.
Rare.
Earth.
Minerals.
Those three words will fund our military presence in Greenland and also cut nice royalty checks to the Greenlanders and accepting our presence. It's a win-win.
Rare.
Earth.
Minerals.
Those three words will fund our military presence in Greenland and also cut nice royalty checks to the Greenlanders and accepting our presence. It's a win-win.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:21 am to TigerAxeOK
quote:
Rare.
Earth.
Minerals.
Rare earths aren't rare. They're byproducts of other mining operations. Their rarity is in that they're very energy intensive and environmentally toxic to refine. That's why we get them from China. It isn't that we don't have them in the ground ourselves.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:24 am to Tantal
I'm all for buying it or making it a territory, if that is what the citizens want. I think we can sweeten the pot enough for them to go for it.
Times makes a point. If treaty allows us to expand our presence, then expand (although our troops won't be happy).
Times makes a point. If treaty allows us to expand our presence, then expand (although our troops won't be happy).
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:30 am to idlewatcher
Trump hasn't asked. He's afraid the Dane's will say, no problem. Where's the fun in that?
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:34 am to prplhze2000
quote:
Times makes a point. If treaty allows us to expand our presence, then expand (although our troops won't be happy).
This is why I don't understand why we need to OWN Greenland. It's pretty much a welfare colony of Denmark. Since we can use it as we wish anyway, why would we want to take on the headache and expense? Think of it as a car. If you went to a dealership to buy a car, but they offered to let you lease the vehicle for free....plus they'd pay for the maintenance, why would you buy?
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:43 am to USAFTiger42
quote:Will? Or could? Because this scenario that has become a talking point is hardly making that distinction. Anything is possible.This however is highly improbable. It is a strawman. There is no imminent threat of this occurring.
China or Russia will take it in a day
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:45 am to Tantal
quote:
Rare earths aren't rare. They're byproducts of other mining operations. Their rarity is in that they're very energy intensive and environmentally toxic to refine. That's why we get them from China. It isn't that we don't have them in the ground ourselves.
Good point.
So realistically, we’re not going to ever mine rare earth elements from the Arctic. It’s too cold and too expensive to extract them from the ground. And ship them.
Also, Greenland would never sell their land to a country that’s going to take his resources.
This post was edited on 1/20/26 at 9:46 am
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:49 am to prplhze2000
quote:
“I have a very hard time seeing that the U.S. couldn’t get pretty much everything it wanted,” he said, adding, “if it just asked nicely.”...
Offering to purchase something you kinda already have the right to take is the definition of asking nicely...
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:51 am to Tantal
Welfare colony because the Danes keep them from developing their assets.
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:55 am to prplhze2000
What has happened to the NYT? First the article debunking the liberal narrative on ICE and now this??
Posted on 1/20/26 at 9:56 am to Decatur
quote:Wanting Greenland is America First.
Amazing how easily they went from America First
Posted on 1/20/26 at 10:00 am to boogiewoogie1978
quote:
more flies with honey
Not arguing but "crack a few eggs to make an omelette" is just as relevant a cliche here.
Reality is it's complex geopolitics & there isn't an easy black & white approach that's going to be perfect in the eyes of everyone
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