US imperialism

By Paul Smith, 14 February 2025 Trump’s threats accelerate Greenland’s push for independence, amid growing dangers of imperialist exploitation and conflict, as the Arctic becomes a new battleground in the global struggle for power, natural resources and strategic dominance. In 2019, Donald Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland, reducing the future of the country to a real estate deal, may have seemed like a joke, but his renewed interest at the start of his second presidency – threatening Denmark with tariffs and refusing to rule out military force (against a NATO country!) to seize the territory – has been a wake up call.  What may have appeared the bluster of a madman or fool, now reveals a stark geopolitical reality: climate change is melting Arctic ice, opening up new shipping routes and exposing valuable mineral deposits. As a result, Greenland’s importance in a world shaped by competition for natural resources and intensifying geopolitical rivalry among global superpowers is growing.  Trump’s pitch for Greenland also highlights the deep contradictions of the island’s political status as a semi-autonomous former colony , as well as the dangers and opportunities posed by independence. Greenland’s colonial history Greenland’s indigenous population, the Inuit, have inhabited the island since 2,500 BCE. In the first millennium CE, Norse seafarers reached Greenland and established settlements that lasted several centuries. Modern colonisation began in 1721 with the arrival of the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, who established a permanent European presence on the island. In 1814, Greenland was officially incorporated into the Danish kingdom after the dissolution of the Denmark-Norway union. For much of its colonial history, Greenland functioned as an economic appendage of Denmark, supplying raw materials such as fish, seals, and whales while depending on Denmark for manufactured goods and governance.  Under capitalist development, Greenland’s indigenous Inuit population was subjected to economic marginalization, forced cultural assimilation, and dependency on Danish policies. During World War 2, the US assumed de facto control over Greenland while Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany. Although the country was returned to Denmark after World War 2, Greenland’s strategic location during the Cold War made it a valuable asset for US military operations, particularly in the context of nuclear deterrence against the Soviet Union.  In 1946, the US offered to purchase Greenland for $100 million ($1 billion today), but Denmark refused. Nevertheless, the US maintained a military presence, most notably with the establishment of Thule Air Base in 1951. The US placed nuclear weapons on the island as well as radar stations.  This was often done with disregard for the well-being and consent of Greenland’s indigenous population. Traditional Inuit settlements were forcibly relocated. In 1968, a US jet carrying nuclear bombs crashed near Thule Air Base causing radioactive contamination of the area. Today, Greenland continues to play a crucial security role for the US, being home to the ballistic missile early warning system and US space and satellite surveillance. In 1953 Greenland was incorporated into the Kingdom of Denmark, ending its official colonial designation, but changing little in terms of its colonial relationship with Denmark. In 1979 a degree of autonomy was granted to Greenland, and yet more autonomy was granted in 2009.  Greenland now has its own parliament, but is financially dependent on Denmark, which provides annual financial subsidies accounting for nearly half of Greenland’s budget. In addition, Denmark also controls Greenland’s foreign and security policy. Untapped natural wealth In addition to its strategic security importance, Greenland has become a focal point for the world’s superpowers because of its abundant natural resources.  Despite the existential threat posed by climate change, capitalist nations are increasingly viewing the melting Arctic as an economic opportunity. As global warming accelerates and Arctic ice continues to shrink, Greenland – home to vast, largely untapped resources due to its harsh climate and remote location – is becoming more accessible for mining, drilling, and new shipping routes. Key natural resources in Greenland that attract the interest of capitalist states and multinational corporations include: Rare earths Although rare earth minerals are abundant, their extraction is environmentally damaging, producing vast amounts of toxic waste. As a result, few countries have been willing to mine them until recently. This has allowed China to dominate the global rare earth market for decades, prioritizing profit over environmental concerns.  Furthermore, China holds numerous patents on rare earth extraction and refining processes, making it more cost-effective for many countries to send their unprocessed ores to China for refinement rather than undertake the process themselves. Today, China accounts for more than 95 percent of global rare earth production. However, reliance on China for rare earth supplies has become increasingly problematic in an era of rising geopolitical tensions and an escalating trade war.  Concerned that the US could be cut off from Chinese rare earth exports, Trump has sought alternative sources. This explains his recent interest in securing rights to exploit Ukraine’s rare earth resources, as well as his focus on Greenland, which is estimated to hold around 25% of the world’s deposits. Currently, mining rare earth minerals, uranium, and drilling for oil are banned in Greenland. However, the Greenlandic government is now considering opening up its natural resources to the US in an effort to achieve economic independence from Denmark. The Great Game in the Arctic But the US is not the only country showing interest in the Arctic. Russia, with 24,000 kilometres of Arctic coastline, is a major player in the region, while China, though not an Arctic nation, is eager to establish itself as an Arctic power.  China has attempted to purchase ports, infrastructure, and mining rights in Greenland, though these efforts have so far been unsuccessful. In addition, China is the second-largest destination for Greenland’s exports (primarily fish) after the European Union. Furthermore, China and Russia have conducted joint military exercises in the region and are cooperating in shipping. As Arctic ice melts, new shipping routes are emerging, such as the Northwest and Northeast Passages, offering the potential for shorter trade routes between Asia and the