Greenland – the hidden continent between the oceans

– Physical facts – a giant of ice

Greenland is the largest island on Earth, covering about 2.1 million square kilometers – roughly 100 times the size of Israel.

Only about 20% of the island is exposed – the rest is buried beneath a massive ice sheet.

Despite its immense size, Greenland is home to only about 56,000 people – making it one of the least populated places on the planet.

– The sovereignty paradox – self-rule under a crown

Formally, Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Denmark is responsible for foreign affairs and defense and provides annual subsidies that constitute a significant portion of the local budget.

Since 2009, aspirations for full independence have grown, with local parties pointing to 2030 as a target year.

– Location is everything – the bridge between North America and Europe

Greenland’s true value lies in its geography.

It sits at the meeting point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

– The United States’ front yard

Geologically, Greenland belongs to North America.

Control of Greenland means control over access to the northern part of the continent.

– The Arctic lock

Greenland forms the central leg of the Greenland–Iceland–UK gap.

This is the critical maritime corridor through which the Russian navy must pass to move from the Arctic into the Atlantic.

– The awakening strategic significance

For decades, Greenland was viewed as a frozen wasteland of limited importance.

Global warming is now melting the ice and exposing two strategic opportunities – dramatically shorter maritime trade routes and access to rare natural resources that were previously unreachable.

– Summary

Greenland is a land of contrasts – vast territory with a tiny population – Danish sovereignty alongside ambitions for independence – and a geographic position that makes it the key to the North Atlantic.

Understanding these fundamentals explains why global powers are willing to engage in diplomatic and economic confrontation to gain a foothold there.

(Strategy and Geopolitic)

What started as a lark, (at least that’s what I thought), is seemingly getting some traction. There is no doubt the strategic importance of not only Greenland, but the whole Article area as well. Look for a compromise, the minerals are worth an untold amount of $$$. Rh