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The Case for Greenland

The Trump administration’s push for a greater role in Greenland is sound strategy hampered by terrible tactics.

Mike Coté

Feb 14

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I had the pleasure of once again appearing in the august pages of Commentary magazine, this time discussing a topic I’ve become something of an expert on: Greenland.¹ In this essay - my longest for Commentary - I lay out the most compelling and complete case for why the world’s largest island is critical to American national security. I explain how American interest in Greenland is longstanding, how our economic and domestic security is implicated by the territory’s status, and why greater American control of the area is necessary to achieve our crucial security aims. I also explore how this good strategy is being completely undermined by the atrocious tactics of the Trump administration, who are seemingly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Below is an excerpt, but you can read the whole thing here.

Over the past year, Donald Trump and his administration have returned again and again to the issue of Greenland. The president has used heated and blustery rhetoric as he makes clear his view that the United States should take possession of the island away from Denmark. His take-no-prisoners approach flummoxed and inflamed the annual conference of economic and political pooh-bahs in the Swiss town of Davos and led leading figures in NATO to suggest Trump’s language was hastening the end of the West as we know it. The focus on Greenland has been a subject of satire, general merriment, and genuine concern that Trump’s fixation with something that has never been on the American public’s radar—ever—is nothing less than a sign of Trump’s madness.
Trump’s approach might be bizarre, but his interest in Greenland is in no way crazy. In fact, the goal of a larger, more permanent, more direct U.S. role in Greenland is in line with our history, security, and national interests.

I have written about Greenland for Providence Magazine and The Spectator, as well as speaking about it on various podcasts and interviews. All of these appearances and articles are available in my archives here at Rational Policy.

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