By Douglas V. Gibbs
When President Trump first began talking about Greenland, as expected, his opposition went nuts over it. They accused the president of seeking to invade Greenland, planning to make it a U.S. territory or even a state, and they claimed that what he was wanting to accomplish was not doable. Fortunately, President Trump could care less what his opposition says, or thinks. He said what he said, and then he took the actions necessary to make a deal… because that is what he does. He makes deals.
The key to any deal is to start high, and that’s what Trump did regarding Greenland. The critics sounded like those accusing the guy who asked for a high price on his used car of being greedy. You don’t ask for more than what a car is worth because you expect to get it, but because you know that during the negotiations the other side will work towards getting you to reduce your offer – so you start high so that you can end up with what you want. That’s all Trump does. And regardless of how high he went with Greenland, first of all it got them talking, and second of all he wound up getting exactly what he was aiming for.
President Donald Trump’s sweeping agreement with Denmark and Greenland gives the United State permanent military rights on the Arctic Island, an expansion of the existing Pituffik Space Base (which supports missile warning and space surveillance), overflight and landing rights for aircraft over and on anywhere on the island (with U.S. forces receiving full movement authority between military areas by land, air, and sea), the ability to establish a communications structure that includes undersea cables, the right to establish ports, and the right to access critical minerals and vast energy resources. The deal also locks out China, Russia, and any other actor that may attempt to exploit Greenland in the way that China was doing with the Panama Cana before Trump stepped in. The world scoffed when Trump opened with “America must own Greenland,” and in the process they came to celebrate giving him the deal he wanted from the beginning.
Each leader signed a copy of the pact and then warmly shook hands for the cameras.
“The United States has a friend that has always kept our word, an ally you have always been able to rely on, and this day represents a milestone in our long-standing cooperation,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“We are, have been, and will remain a steadfast friend of the United States and a part of the Western alliance. Your security is our security, and our security is your security,” added Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said regarding the deal, “”They recognize, at the end of the day, that they have a national security concern here as well,” Rubio said. “Denmark and Greenland understand that they don’t have the financial means necessary to defend Greenland if it were to come under attack or be threatened. The United States has the power to do that.”
Two military bases are already planned, Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland (a former Cold War era military base) and Mestersvig on the island’s remote eastern coast. Greenland will also play a major role in President Trump’s planned Golden Dome missile-defense system – a critical feature since Russia has invested heavily in their northern military infrastructure as China has repeatedly sought economic and strategic influence in the region (despite not bordering the Arctic). The agreement also disallows any non-NATO nation from establishing any base, unmanned installation, or persistent troop presence unless all three governments (U.S., Denmark, and Greenland) approve it. In addition to that, even commercial investments by adversarial nations are disallowed.
The agreement preserves Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination, and if ever Greenland accomplishes independence, the new country will automatically remain a member of NATO.
The biggest part of the deal is that there is no expiration date, and there is no cost to the American taxpayer. Changing the terms of the deal require mutual consent.
In the end, Trump did not need to buy Greenland, invade Greenland, or acquire Greenland to secure what he wanted. All of that was just a part of starting the negotiations with a high bid. In the end he got what he wanted, the protections America needed, and all of it is on paper as a part of a never-ending agreement.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Trump said the agreement with Denmark and Greenland would expand America’s military presence and restrict access by U.S. adversaries.
“We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe and other places,” Trump said. “We will be building two very major military bases.”
U.S. forces were previously allowed on Greenland under the terms of a 1951 defense treaty. America maintained 17 installations and over 10,000 personnel on Greenland at the height of the Cold War. This deal by President Trump represents the first major expansion of the U.S. military infrastructure in the region since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
