As former U.S. President Donald Trump once again raised the possibility of a U.S. acquisition of Greenland this week, new analysis suggests the future of the island territory may hinge on the perspective of its Indigenous population. A new book details how the Greenlandic people – a population of roughly 56,000, the vast majority of whom identify as Inuit – have historically been impacted by outside forces, and how their pursuit of self-determination is now a key factor in the ongoing diplomatic situation. The book, published by Saint-Simon, argues that understanding this history is crucial to understanding the current geopolitical maneuvering surrounding the strategically located territory.
A polar specialist this week explained why the Inuit people may hold the key to the escalating diplomatic crisis in Greenland.
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As former President Donald Trump once again threatened this week to acquire Greenland, a new book examines a key player in this diplomatic standoff. This actor isn’t the American president, Denmark, China, Russia, or the European Union. Instead, it’s the Greenlandic people themselves.
This population – currently numbering in the tens of thousands, with 90% identifying as Inuit – has historically had its story written by those who conquered the island.
That history begins with the Vikings, over a millennium ago, as explorer Erik the Red coined the name “Greenland” – a deliberate attempt to attract further Viking settlement.
Later came the Norwegians, the Danes, and the Americans, who, while never possessing Greenland, utilized it for military purposes during World War II.
Less known is the fact that defending Greenland during the Second World War heavily relied on a small, elite unit, including Inuit members with intimate knowledge of the terrain, who monitored potential German landings.
This period also saw the introduction of new lifestyles and technologies to the Greenlandic people.
Following the war, in 1953, Greenland gained a new status: integration into the Kingdom of Denmark. This ushered in a dark period marked by the forced sterilization of thousands of Inuit women. This scandal fueled the growing desire for Greenlandic independence.
That aspiration for independence may be central to the current crisis, according to Elizabeth Buchanan. Trump’s renewed interest comes at a pivotal moment for Greenland, which gained self-governance in 1979, the right to self-determination in 2009, and has been developing a draft constitution for potential independence for the past two years.
This document would allow Greenland to share its sovereignty with other states in certain areas, such as defense and mining. This prospect could appeal to Trump, who, according to Buchanan, might encourage Greenland to accelerate its independence declaration to exploit its resources without incurring any costs.
So, you want to buy Greenland… by geopolitologist Elizabeth Buchanan, published by Saint-Simon.
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