Greenland : History and Its Strategic Importance in 21st Century Geopolitics

Greenland : History and Its Strategic Importance in 21^st Century Geopolitics

KAKALI DAS

Why does everyone want Greenland? When we look at the world map, Greenland appears to be a cold, quiet, and remote island covered in ice and surrounded by freezing seas. At first glance, it does not seem like a place that would stand at the centre of global politics. It has a very small population, an extremely harsh climate, and very little infrastructure compared to other regions of the world. Yet today, Greenland has become one of the most important strategic locations on Earth. Its geography, history, and natural resources have placed it in the middle of global power politics.

Greenland is located within the Arctic Circle. It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. To its east is the Atlantic Ocean. To its west are Canada and Baffin Bay. To its north east is the Arctic Ocean. To its south is the open North Atlantic. Because of this position, Greenland acts like a natural bridge between North America and Europe. Its total area is about 2.16 million square kilometres, which makes it the largest island in the world. If we compare it with India to understand its size better, Greenland is roughly two thirds the size of India. Despite its massive area, the total population of Greenland is only around 57,000 people.

The reason for this very small population is simple. About 80 percent of Greenland is covered with a thick layer of ice and snow. This ice is thousands of years old and in many places it is up to three kilometres thick. Human settlement is limited mostly to coastal areas.

Most people live on the west coast because the climate there is slightly less harsh and fishing and sea trade are possible. Even in coastal areas, winter temperatures often remain between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius. In the interior parts of Greenland, temperatures can fall to minus 60 degrees Celsius. In the northernmost parts, the sun does not rise for weeks or even months during winter. These extreme conditions make Greenland one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth.

To understand why Greenland is so important today, we must first look at its history. Human beings first set foot on Greenland around 4500 years ago, around 2500 BC. The earliest settlers were people from Arctic Canada who belonged to cultures such as the Saqqaq and Independence cultures. They travelled across icy seas and snow covered lands to reach Greenland. These early inhabitants were hunters who depended on fishing and marine animals for survival. They used stone tools, wore animal skins to protect themselves from the cold, and made weapons from bones.

Greenland Ice Sheet Melted 17 Times Faster During May Heatwave

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Over time, other cultures such as the Dorset culture and later the Thule culture arrived in Greenland. The Thule people were the ancestors of the modern Inuit population. They adapted very well to the harsh Arctic environment and developed skills in hunting, fishing, and surviving in extreme cold. For many centuries, these communities lived in Greenland.

In the late tenth century, Scandinavian Norse people also came to Greenland. One of the most famous among them was Erik the Red. He had been exiled from Iceland for three years because of a murder. During his exile, he explored the coastal areas of Greenland and established settlements there. To attract more settlers, he named the land Greenland, even though much of it was covered in ice. He hoped that the name would make people believe that the land was green and fertile. His plan worked, and more Norse settlers arrived. From the tenth to the fifteenth century, small Norse communities lived in Greenland. They practiced farming, animal husbandry, hunting, and trading.

However, in the fifteenth century, the Norse settlements suddenly disappeared from history. There is no definite answer about what happened to them. Many historians believe that the Little Ice Age was a major reason. During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, temperatures dropped sharply. Farming became difficult, livestock died, and sea routes froze. Trade with Europe almost stopped. The Norse settlers may have starved, died from disease, or slowly migrated back to Iceland.

Even after the Norse disappeared, the Inuit people continued to live in Greenland. They had adapted to the Arctic environment and were better prepared to survive the harsh conditions. For many years after this, Greenland remained largely cut off from the outside world.

In 1721, a Norwegian missionary named Hans Egede arrived in Greenland. At that time, Norway and Denmark were united under one kingdom. Hans Egede wanted to reconnect Greenland with the Danish Norwegian kingdom and spread Christianity. This marked the beginning of the colonial period in Greenland. Over time, the Danish Norwegian crown gained control over the entire island. Christianity spread among the population, and European cultural influence increased.

Trump Explicitly Rules Out Force in Pursuit of Greenland Acquisition

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

In the early nineteenth century, European politics again changed Greenland’s fate. During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark supported Napoleon against Great Britain. After France was defeated, Denmark suffered heavy losses. In 1814, under the Treaty of Kiel, Norway was separated from Denmark and given to Sweden. However, Denmark managed to keep Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. From that point, Greenland became a colony of Denmark.

Denmark imposed a strict trade monopoly over Greenland. Only Denmark had the right to trade with the island. Inuit people could sell products such as seal skins, whale oil, and fish only to Danish authorities, often at very low prices. This made the local economy completely dependent on Denmark. Danish authorities also imposed European values and lifestyles on the Inuit population. Many traditional settlements were closed, and people were moved into larger towns. Over time, Denmark gained strong control over Greenland’s economy, culture, and identity.

In the early twentieth century, Denmark became concerned about protecting its sovereignty over Greenland. Norway had shown interest in eastern Greenland, claiming historical rights. Denmark wanted international recognition of its authority. In 1917, during the First World War, Denmark sold the Danish West Indies in the Caribbean to the United States for 25 million dollars in gold. These islands are now known as the United States Virgin Islands. In return, the United States officially recognized Denmark’s full rights over Greenland. This strengthened Denmark’s legal claim.

The Second World War brought another major change. In 1940, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark. Greenland was suddenly cut off from its government. There was a fear that Germany might try to control Greenland and use it as a base to threaten North America. In 1941, a Danish diplomat in Washington named Henrik Kauffmann signed an agreement with the United States without permission from his government. He allowed the United States to establish military bases in Greenland to protect it from Germany. At first, he was called a traitor by Danish authorities. Later, he was seen as a hero because his decision helped keep Greenland safe from Nazi control.

Greenland’s Rising Stakes: From Trump’s Vision to Global Power Play

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

After the war ended in 1945, a new conflict began between the United States and the Soviet Union. This was the Cold War. Greenland became extremely important because the shortest route between the United States and the Soviet Union passed over the Arctic. If there had been a nuclear war, Soviet missiles would likely have travelled across the Arctic toward America. The United States feared that if the Soviet Union gained influence in Greenland, it would threaten North American security.

Another important factor was the GIUK gap, which stands for Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. This narrow sea corridor was a key strategic choke point. Soviet submarines moving from the Arctic Ocean into the North Atlantic had to pass through this area. Controlling this route was crucial for monitoring naval activity and protecting supply routes between North America and Europe.

In 1946, United States President Harry Truman even offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for 100 million dollars in gold. Denmark refused to sell. However, it allowed the United States to maintain and expand military bases. In the 1950s, the United States built Thule Air Base, now known as Pituffik Space Base. It became a critical early warning station to detect Soviet missiles.

In 1953, Greenland officially became part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its people received Danish citizenship. However, many Greenlanders wanted greater autonomy. In 1979, Greenland was granted home rule, allowing it to manage internal affairs such as education, health, and fisheries. Denmark continued to handle defence and foreign policy.

After the Cold War ended in 1991, Greenland’s importance seemed to decline for a while. But in the twenty first century, climate change and melting ice brought new attention to the Arctic. As ice melts, new shipping routes are opening, and natural resources are becoming more accessible.

Russia has increased its military presence in the Arctic and has reactivated old Soviet bases. It has built the world’s largest fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers. For Russia, the Arctic is both economically and strategically important because much of its oil and gas lies there.

In 2009, Greenland received greater self rule. It gained control over its natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals. It also gained the legal right to seek full independence from Denmark in the future. Although Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it now controls most of its internal matters.

China has also shown interest in Greenland. It has called itself a near Arctic state and introduced the idea of a Polar Silk Road. China invested in mining projects in Greenland, especially in rare earth minerals. For a small economy like Greenland, Chinese investment was attractive. At one point, Chinese investment made up a significant share of Greenland’s economy. China even offered to help build airports. However, the United States saw this as a security risk and pressured Greenland and Denmark to reject these proposals.

In 2019, United States President Donald Trump suggested that the United States might buy Greenland. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded clearly that Greenland was not for sale. Trump cancelled a planned visit to Denmark after this response. Many people laughed at the idea, but it reflected serious strategic thinking.

Congressman Fine Introduces Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act !

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Greenland holds large deposits of rare earth minerals such as neodymium, dysprosium, and uranium. These minerals are essential for smartphones, computers, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced military technology. Today, China controls most of the global rare earth supply chain. The United States wants to reduce its dependence on China. Access to Greenland’s resources would help achieve this goal.

As climate change continues to melt the Arctic ice, Greenland’s resources are becoming easier to reach. At the same time, new shipping routes could shorten trade distances between Asia, Europe, and North America. Control over these routes is becoming a major strategic issue.

Despite foreign interest, most Greenlanders do not want to be part of the United States. Many want independence from Denmark, but they also want to protect their culture and identity. They fear becoming just another strategic military location.

Today, Greenland appears at the center of global competition between the United States, Russia, and China. Its geography makes it a military shield. Its sea routes make it a trade gateway. Its minerals make it economically valuable. Its melting ice makes it accessible. Although it looks like a remote frozen island, Greenland has become one of the most important pieces on the global chessboard. The world powers understand this clearly, and that is why everyone seems to want Greenland.

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking.  You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.