Conrad Black: Greenland Deal Is Good News for the Western Alliance
Commentary The announcement of agreed terms for an arrangement between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States is unambiguously good news for the Western Alliance. All the bluster about the United States resorting to force to protect its own national security if the Danes and Greenlanders (who are partially but imprecisely self‑governing) rejected its claim to safeguard NATO’s—and particularly America’s—interests in the Arctic and in Greenland’s potentially important strategic mineral resources was absurd. It is not entirely clear to what extent Greenland is self-governing, but it has been evolving majestically in that direction over a very protracted schedule. After a Norse background, Greenland became a Danish colony and the Danes imposed their language on the overwhelming ethnic group on the island: the Greenlandic Inuit....
The agreement between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States is positive for the Western Alliance, countering earlier claims of potential U.S. force. Greenland, which has been progressively gaining self-governance after its colonial past under Denmark, is noted for its strategic importance. The article touches upon the historical context of Danish influence and the imposition of their language on the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit population.
- The announcement of an arrangement between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States is positive news for the Western Alliance.
- Bluster about the U.S. using force if its claims were rejected was absurd.
- Greenland’s self-governance is noted as evolving, though its extent is unclear.
- Greenland was a Danish colony, and Danish was imposed on the Greenlandic Inuit.
- Greenland is considered strategically important for NATO and U.S. interests in the Arctic, including mineral resources.
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