After nine months, US President Trump has once again started to talk about annexing Greenland. On local time 21st, Trump appointed Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, as a special envoy for Greenland. This is an unusual appointment; it is not a permanent diplomatic position of the US government, but rather a non-official diplomatic role personally assigned by Trump. As for Landry, he is no ordinary person; he has a close relationship with Trump and is extremely loyal to the president. The outside world believes that this is part of Trump's preparations for annexing Greenland.

Trump: I really like Greenland

Later, Trump posted on Twitter to explain why the US needs Greenland. Trump said that it's not because he's after the mineral resources of Greenland, but due to "national security" considerations. Many Chinese and Russian ships have been found near Greenland, so we must possess it. Yes, this is the attitude of the US president towards the sovereignty of another country. If Trump wants it, he gets it.

The last time Trump made intense statements about Greenland was in March, when he met NATO's new secretary general, Rutte, and unreservedly stated that the US must obtain Greenland. A few days later, US Vice President JD Vance and his wife led a delegation to Greenland. It is worth mentioning that the delegation also included the US Energy Secretary Wright. Although these people did not have any scheduled or invited meetings, their visit itself represented the official stance of the US.

Vice President's wife visiting Greenland

At that time, Denmark's Foreign Minister Rasmussen said that this reflected Americans' "inappropriate desire." This statement is indeed reasonable, but Trump clearly does not care. Afterward, the US launched a trade war globally, and the issue of Greenland was temporarily set aside. Now, nine months have passed, Trump failed to mediate the Ukraine conflict, the trade war got messy, and domestic issues kept piling up, and suddenly he remembered Greenland again.

Trump may think that if he can take over Greenland, it would be a way to "expand the territory" for the US. In addition to solving some practical problems, it could also make him famous in history. But the problem remains the same: Greenland is someone else's territory, and if Denmark doesn't give it, what should be done? Seeing Trump getting closer and closer, the Danish government expressed anger again. Rasmussen said that Trump's decision deeply upset him, and they believe such statements are completely unacceptable.

Prime Minister of Denmark, Frederiksen

At the same time, the Greenland self-government also issued a statement criticizing the US. However, there is a saying: criticism with words cannot replace the critique of weapons. If Trump really wants to annex Greenland, can the Danish government withstand it? The relationship between Greenland and the Danish government is also quite special; they do not consider themselves part of Denmark, and now they are in a state of autonomy, seeking independence.

Trump has seized this opportunity, thinking that it is better for Greenland to become the 51st state of the US than to be independent. In this way, Greenland can find a wealthier "father figure," while the US can use the island's strategic location to strengthen its ballistic missile defense system in the Western Hemisphere.

Can Trump get Greenland?

Combining with the new version of the US National Security Strategy, Trump seems to want to turn the entire North America into a solid block. Canada and Greenland are actually included in the US sphere of influence. Then the question arises: how will Trump get Greenland? Pure diplomatic pressure is definitely not enough. According to the past 200 years of US foreign policy, the general process would be to first incite a "color revolution" in Greenland, then send US troops to intervene in the situation, and finally incorporate Greenland into the territory.

In the past, the US obtained the Panama Canal by splitting Panama out from Colombia's territory. Now the times have changed, but the principle remains the same. As for whether the US would use military force against Denmark, and how the EU and NATO would respond, we will just have to wait and see.



Original: toutiao.com/article/7586912277875196454/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.