Martin Capital's Rod D. Martin discusses the commencement of negotiations with Denmark and Greenland, what the President's statements mean, and the coming win-win-win solution.
A tremendous analysis by Dr. Rod Martin on the negotiations with Denmark for Greenland! The negotiations are tense as expected given President Trump’s rhetoric. However, they are happening nonetheless and the President is simply negotiating the way he always has. By starting out with the craziest most maximalist position and then gradually works his way up to what he really wants. President Trump intends to neither annex Greenland nor to invade it. He seeks to negotiate a compact of free association with Greenland just as we have with the Federated States of Micronesia, The Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Greenland could be independent in a sense without any of the costs that come with independence. It’s a win-win-win for everybody. Why? Well let’s break it down.
It’s a win for the United States because we get a new trade partner, Russia and China are blocked from the Western Hemisphere yet again, we can secure Greenland’s oil and mineral wealth for the free world, and Denmark is pushed to rearm and spend more on defense. Greenland wins because such a deal would enrich its people and provide them with protection from the best military in the world. Denmark wins because they’ll make billions from this deal which they would not have gotten out of Greenland otherwise. Opponents of this move, let me ask you something: would you prefer America and the free world have that oil and minerals or Russia and China? Do you want the all-important Arctic sea lanes to be vulnerable to Russian and Chinese infiltration? Do you want Russian and Chinese spies infiltrating Europe, the United States and Canada through Greenland? Because that’s what will happen if this deal is not closed.
Greenland’s history was most fascinating to learn about. The Viking settlements in Greenland failed for a variety of reasons including harsh climate shifts, environmental degradation, economic collapse due to the loss of Walrus ivory trade, social isolation, and conflict with the Inuit peoples. The Inuit then moved in after the Vikings left. In the 18th Century, the Danes conquered Greenland and made it their colony an arrangement that continues to this day. The Inuit peoples were forced by the Danes to assimilate to Danish culture and speak the Danish language. Inuit children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools. In what was known as the “Little Danes Experiment” twenty-two Inuit children were sent to Denmark in 1951 to basically be transformed into Danes. There were also medical experiments performed on Inuit women by Danish scientists. Needless to say, the Danes have never treated the Inuits well. Inequalities between European and Inuit Greenlanders remain to this day. So as you can see, this is very much a colonial relationship and Greenland is one of the few 21st colonies left. You want to complain about American imperialism? How about you take a good long look at Danish imperialism which continues to this day? America has no colonies but Denmark still has one they’ve owned since the 1700s.
As usual, a fantastic analysis from my friend Rod.
Thank you!
A tremendous analysis by Dr. Rod Martin on the negotiations with Denmark for Greenland! The negotiations are tense as expected given President Trump’s rhetoric. However, they are happening nonetheless and the President is simply negotiating the way he always has. By starting out with the craziest most maximalist position and then gradually works his way up to what he really wants. President Trump intends to neither annex Greenland nor to invade it. He seeks to negotiate a compact of free association with Greenland just as we have with the Federated States of Micronesia, The Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Greenland could be independent in a sense without any of the costs that come with independence. It’s a win-win-win for everybody. Why? Well let’s break it down.
It’s a win for the United States because we get a new trade partner, Russia and China are blocked from the Western Hemisphere yet again, we can secure Greenland’s oil and mineral wealth for the free world, and Denmark is pushed to rearm and spend more on defense. Greenland wins because such a deal would enrich its people and provide them with protection from the best military in the world. Denmark wins because they’ll make billions from this deal which they would not have gotten out of Greenland otherwise. Opponents of this move, let me ask you something: would you prefer America and the free world have that oil and minerals or Russia and China? Do you want the all-important Arctic sea lanes to be vulnerable to Russian and Chinese infiltration? Do you want Russian and Chinese spies infiltrating Europe, the United States and Canada through Greenland? Because that’s what will happen if this deal is not closed.
Greenland’s history was most fascinating to learn about. The Viking settlements in Greenland failed for a variety of reasons including harsh climate shifts, environmental degradation, economic collapse due to the loss of Walrus ivory trade, social isolation, and conflict with the Inuit peoples. The Inuit then moved in after the Vikings left. In the 18th Century, the Danes conquered Greenland and made it their colony an arrangement that continues to this day. The Inuit peoples were forced by the Danes to assimilate to Danish culture and speak the Danish language. Inuit children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools. In what was known as the “Little Danes Experiment” twenty-two Inuit children were sent to Denmark in 1951 to basically be transformed into Danes. There were also medical experiments performed on Inuit women by Danish scientists. Needless to say, the Danes have never treated the Inuits well. Inequalities between European and Inuit Greenlanders remain to this day. So as you can see, this is very much a colonial relationship and Greenland is one of the few 21st colonies left. You want to complain about American imperialism? How about you take a good long look at Danish imperialism which continues to this day? America has no colonies but Denmark still has one they’ve owned since the 1700s.