This particular assertion from Trump gained global attention and I was considering it after initially thinking that perhaps Trump was changing the channel because of campaign promises he wouldn't deliver.
Greenland would provide major benefits to America from a National Security standpoint and economic security.
Now, Denmark knows that Greenland has plenty of resources, however, they don't have the economy nor the means to extract and maximize the benefit of these resources. America does, and they will spend the money to extract and utilize.
Greenland is a critical point to protect from foreign invaders and would be the perfect location for America to reach a multitude of land masses around the globe to defend their NATO partners.
Greenland is also the shortest route to Europe over water. This would provide excellent cross water trade as well as a strategic location for America to build bases, ports and other useful assets in times of war. War which Europe realizes now is closer than they had ever believed just a few years ago.
What would it cost America to purchase it?
Well, I just throw out ideas but it's a start but consider how much money the U.S has spent on foolish endeavours and the price is quite reasonable.
The population of Greenland is only about 56,000 people or so, they should be allowed to vote in a transparent referendum on the citizenship question
"would you like to become American"?. If the vote passed and there were people who didn't want to be American, than maybe the Danes would offer them citizenship and they could move, I don't know. Elections speak though.
If America offered $25,000 in U.S funds to every citizen, American dollars which all of these citizens would now receive as newly minted Americans; it would only cost the U.S $1.4B. You would decrease that significantly if say, you offered that amount to only adults. Allow say, $10,000 for minors to be held in trust. Trump could probably offer far less if the sentiment is as some say that
many Greenlanders welcome being Americans so you could offer only $5,000 and they would be more willing to vote but I don't have scientist data to know and human behaviour is unique.
You then offer Denmark say $2-3B and more importantly,
"special trade status" with America in which any domestic product of Denmark can be sold in the U.S with 0% tariff for 50 years. That would allow a generation of Denmark companies and entrepreneurs to realize their dreams through hard work and/or ingenuity and build closer relations with the Danes in the process. A win/win for NATO, Greenland, Denmark, Europe and America.
And in terms of Denmarks opinion of Greenland, see the quote below directly from Danish PM Frederiksen. If she believes this, than Greenland should be able to chart their own destiny:
------When it became clear that Trump was serious, Danish PM Frederiksen said: 'Greenland is not for sale
. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is Greenlandic.'-----
Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede said he is “ready” to talk with President-elect Trump, who has recently expressed ambitions for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, the world’s largest island.
Egede was asked during a press conference in Copenhagen on Friday if he was in touch with the president-elect. He said no but added that “we are ready to talk.”
