President Trump has loudly demanded ownership of Greenland as a matter of crucial national defence. Highlighting Greenland’s role in Arctic trade routes and national defense, he drew a dire picture.

Our U.N. ambassador, Mike Waltz, made the administration’s case on several TV shows by claiming that, in the event of problems in the Arctic, the Island doesn’t even have an icebreaker—no wonder they need us.

To understand the situation, we need to know why the Arctic is becoming so important. This map should help:

With warming temperatures, two significant new trade routes are emerging. The Northern Sea Route, which mainly runs through Russian waters, and the Northwest Passage, which runs by Greenland, Canada, and the U.S. (Alaska). As I pointed out in my post, “What’s Trump Thinking,” The Former is of the utmost importance to China. A shorter route to Europe, accessible to Russian resources, is the future. That’s why China isn’t about to allow Russia to change alliances without a painful response.

The search for a Northwest Passage dates back centuries, driven by obvious commercial advantages. Now it’s happening. As with any critical trade route, it needs protection. It’s still the Arctic, so commercial and military vessels will need icebreaker support. As NATO allies, Denmark, Canada, and the U.S. should have no problem establishing bases and patrols as required.

Of course, Ambassador Waltz is correct in highlighting the need for Icebreakers. Still, you can’t look to the U.S. We have two or three ancient icebreakers that may or may not be available in a time of need. We’ve ordered a couple from Finland, hopefully for delivery in 2028. Presently, the Northwest Passage depends on Canada’s 18 capable ships, with even more modern ones on the way. With the increasing importance of icebreakers, note that Denmark has more than the U.S.:

With the safety of the Northwest Passage more dependent on Canada than the U.S., let’s look at Trump’s other military arguments for U.S. ownership of Greenland. We need the Island for the Golden Dome defence system, but that’s just an upgrade to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which includes bases across the frozen north of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland.

To date, nobody has ruled out any needed expansions. In the past, we’ve had many more bases in Greenland, and Denmark says we can reopen them or build new ones if required.

Our Pituffik base in Greenland is finally getting updated. The base, scheduled for expansion without U.S. ownership, has about 650 people, including 150-200 Americans, with the rest Danes and Greenlanders. Apparently, it will get one of the ordered icebreakers to keep its now frozen harbor open.

With the Northwest Passage patrolled by the Canadians and NORAD already providing updated defense, that leaves only Greenland’s natural resources to justify purchase or conquest, but Trump himself throws cold water on that idea. He tells us they’re too expensive, and he’s backing American mines and processing.

So what would we be paying for if we indeed purchased Greenland?. Coming up with a purchase price is daunting, if not impossible. Anyway, it gives new meaning to the old saying, “Why buy the cow if you’re already getting free milk?”  

Canada, a key part of our military and commercial needs in the Arctic, is now alienated by Trump’s tariffs and threats, and we see its leader cozying up to China. In my post on Venezuela, I pointed out that we’ve forced Canada to reroute its oil exports to the Far East, mainly China.

It may be cheaper to ship other Canadian exports subject to high U.S. tariffs, such as iron ore and aluminum, to China via the Northwest Passage. As China is the leading factor in the carrying trade, this circumstance brings its ships and interests into the North American Arctic. Isn’t it Trump’s point to keep China out?

Trump claims we can’t rely on our NATO allies to honor their commitments, but the opposite may be true. Nato joined us in fighting the bad guys who attacked us on 9/11. Nobody attacked the other members, but they were here for us. When we bugged out of Afghanistan, there were more allied troops there than Americans, and they were against leaving.

It is important to note that Denmark suffered the highest per capita casualty rate in Afghanistan, of any nation, including the U.S. Apparently, Trump means to repay their support by taking Greenland from them.

It is important to remember that the United States recognized Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland as part of the Virgin Islands Purchase Treaty. Approved by Congress, it’s the law.

Can anybody say for sure if Russia attacked Latvia, Trump would come to its aid? His ambitions for Greenland threaten to undermine NATO and destabilize regional alliances that have been the backbone of U.S. security in Europe and the Arctic, raising concerns about long-term strategic stability.

If none of the reasons given for Trump’s Greenland acquisition drive are valid, why is Trump upending alliances and markets by forcing the issue?

Trump let the cat out of the bag in a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister. In the face of Norway’s refusal to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, he has to enhance his legacy elsewhere. Trump-friendly Fox News has been showing maps of major land acquisitions in our history. The purchases of Louisiana and Alaska were big in area but smaller than Greenland. Trump would go down in history as responsible for our most significant land expansion.  

Is it possible that Donald Trump would cause so much havoc to satisfy his own vanity? If he can force the Venezuelan national hero, María Corina Machado, to surrender her Nobel Peace Prize to his appropriation, apparently, he’s that self-centered.

If Donald Trump is worried about threats to our national security, the first place to look is in the mirror. Even if Trump is pulling a TACO (Trump always chickens out) and now backs off his Greenland ownership demand, he’s already done immeasurable harm. His attempted Greenland grab has given the whole world an insight into his motivation. Our friends are dismayed, and our enemies cheer.