Jeffrey Gettleman

Well, there's a few reasons. The first reason is its size and its location. Greenland is enormous. It's the largest island in the world. It has only 56,000 people, but it's this gigantic space. And it's located in a very strategic spot along the Arctic Ocean where shipping lanes are increasingly important as global warming melts ice that had blocked those areas for forever up until now.

Well, there's a few reasons. The first reason is its size and its location. Greenland is enormous. It's the largest island in the world. It has only 56,000 people, but it's this gigantic space. And it's located in a very strategic spot along the Arctic Ocean where shipping lanes are increasingly important as global warming melts ice that had blocked those areas for forever up until now.

And there's a lot of interest in controlling that space by Russia, by China, by European nations, and by the U.S., There's also vast mineral resources on Greenland. There are huge deposits of iron, zinc, copper, platinum, rare earth elements that have become really important in high-tech industries. And that's another reason why Trump and his circle are really interested in taking over the island.

And there's a lot of interest in controlling that space by Russia, by China, by European nations, and by the U.S., There's also vast mineral resources on Greenland. There are huge deposits of iron, zinc, copper, platinum, rare earth elements that have become really important in high-tech industries. And that's another reason why Trump and his circle are really interested in taking over the island.

But there's one big problem. Greenland is actually part of Denmark. It's been like that for more than 300 years. The Danes colonized Greenland in the 1700s. Denmark still controls its foreign policy, its defense, and other important issues, even though Greenland is part of North America.

But there's one big problem. Greenland is actually part of Denmark. It's been like that for more than 300 years. The Danes colonized Greenland in the 1700s. Denmark still controls its foreign policy, its defense, and other important issues, even though Greenland is part of North America.

Totally. It seemed really random when it first came up. But this isn't the first time a U.S. president has been interested in Greenland. The U.S. has seen Greenland as this important piece of territory for a long time. In the 1860s, the U.S. had purchased Alaska from Russia, and Greenland was seen as the next big piece of territory to expand America's ambitions in the North American continent.

Totally. It seemed really random when it first came up. But this isn't the first time a U.S. president has been interested in Greenland. The U.S. has seen Greenland as this important piece of territory for a long time. In the 1860s, the U.S. had purchased Alaska from Russia, and Greenland was seen as the next big piece of territory to expand America's ambitions in the North American continent.

It didn't go anywhere, and it just kind of died. It then came up again in 1910. There was an American plan to acquire Greenland through a trade of different islands, but that didn't go anywhere either. And then in World War II, Nazi Germany took over Denmark as part of its expansion across continental Europe.

It didn't go anywhere, and it just kind of died. It then came up again in 1910. There was an American plan to acquire Greenland through a trade of different islands, but that didn't go anywhere either. And then in World War II, Nazi Germany took over Denmark as part of its expansion across continental Europe.

And the United States was really worried that there could be a Nazi incursion on Greenland as a stepping stone towards the United States. And so the U.S. established these bases all around Greenland. And then after the war, America thinks, hey, you know, it just makes perfect sense that we take over Greenland forever.

And the United States was really worried that there could be a Nazi incursion on Greenland as a stepping stone towards the United States. And so the U.S. established these bases all around Greenland. And then after the war, America thinks, hey, you know, it just makes perfect sense that we take over Greenland forever.

And the United States offered $100 million in gold to Denmark, which had been shattered by World War II. But the Danes were not interested. Again, they just did not want to get rid of this territory.

And the United States offered $100 million in gold to Denmark, which had been shattered by World War II. But the Danes were not interested. Again, they just did not want to get rid of this territory.

Absolutely. So after World War II, Denmark decided we need to keep Greenland. And in 1953, they made a decision to take it from being a colony to being part of Denmark. And what that meant for Greenlanders was that they were now citizens of Denmark. They were entitled to the same rights, to the same benefits. They were Danish citizens.

Absolutely. So after World War II, Denmark decided we need to keep Greenland. And in 1953, they made a decision to take it from being a colony to being part of Denmark. And what that meant for Greenlanders was that they were now citizens of Denmark. They were entitled to the same rights, to the same benefits. They were Danish citizens.

And that led to more investment, more development, a closer connection between Greenland and Denmark.

And that led to more investment, more development, a closer connection between Greenland and Denmark.

So for decades, it really was not in the international conversation. The Cold War was happening. The U.S. seemed to be happy with having its military bases on Greenland. Both Denmark and the U.S. are members of NATO. And so Greenland was seen as a NATO territory. And the American government did not pursue a serious plan to take it over until 2019.

So for decades, it really was not in the international conversation. The Cold War was happening. The U.S. seemed to be happy with having its military bases on Greenland. Both Denmark and the U.S. are members of NATO. And so Greenland was seen as a NATO territory. And the American government did not pursue a serious plan to take it over until 2019.