|
In 1946, the US proposed to pay Denmark USD 100 million to buy Greenland.
Trump's idea of buying Greenland could change the fishing map of Europe
GREENLAND
Friday, August 16, 2019, 16:20 (GMT + 9)
Trump sets his eyes on Greenland: twice the size of Alaska, it would be his legacy to 'make America great'
Donald Trump has discussed trying to buy Greenland from Denmark as a way to expand US territory, according to US reports.
The US president's proposal, which was first reported in the Wall Street Journal, has come with “varying degrees of seriousness”, though he has apparently gone as far as seeking the view of the White House counsel.
Mr Trump discussed the idea at a dinner last year at which he said he had heard Denmark found the financial support to the territory burdensome, the Journal reported.
With a population of about 56,000 people, Greenland is a free territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with a government that decides on most of the country's affairs, although Copenhagen continues to look after security-related interests and foreign policy.
In addition, it also depends on an annual subsidy from Denmark valued at USD 591 million, which represents about 60% of its budget for each year.
The first time the president was heard talking about Greenland was at a dinner with partners last year when a person at the table said that Denmark was having trouble maintaining the region, so he suggested that he should buy it.
"What do you think about that? Do you think it would work?" The president inquired according to one of the people.
Memes have circulated on the subject
During the meetings in which Trump has asked about the possible purchase of the territory, the president listened carefully when discussing the geopolitical importance of Greenland and its many natural resources.
A Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Greenland covers the period 1.1.2016 – 31.12.2020 by which it is allowed to fish to boats of the European Community in exchange for a fee.
This table sohw the species and volumes that can be fished:
It wouldn’t be the first time an American leader tried to buy the world’s largest island, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
In 1946, the US proposed to pay Denmark $100 million to buy Greenland after flirting with the idea of swapping land in Alaska for strategic parts of the Arctic island.
For its part, the Greenland government sent a twitter today stating that the country is open to investments but not for sale.
Next month, Trump is scheduled to travel to Denmark for the first time on a visit that is unrelated to the matter, said sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.
|
.png)
.jpeg)
Print
