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After Trump tried to buy Greenland, US gives island $12M for economic development
Related: Greenland ready to take US aid but won’t accept conditions (Associated Press)
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Source: ABC News
After Trump tried to buy Greenland, US gives island $12M for economic development
The U.S. sees financial, strategic openings as its ice sheet dangerously melts.
ByConor Finnegan
23 April 2020, 12:12
11 min read
It isn't President Donald Trump's opening bid. But his administration announced Thursday it will provide a $12 million aid package to Greenland for economic development, raising eyebrows in Denmark, which has sovereignty over the island, and firing off a volley in the emerging competition with Russia and China for power in the Arctic.
The world's largest island, Greenland is home to the only permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica, covering four-fifths of its 836,000 square miles. As the planet's temperature rises and its climate changes, that ice sheet has seen historic melting, potentially endangering life on Earth.
But with that melt, the Trump administration sees an important strategic opportunity, racing to push back on Russia's growing military presence in the Arctic and China's economic push into the region.
In what was mistaken for a joke at first last August, Trump said his administration was looking into purchasing Greenland, which may hold vast oil or mineral resources beneath that ice sheet and sits at a critical location at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean's northernmost stretches and the Arctic Ocean.
His offer was rebuffed by Greenlandic and Danish officials. Greenland is a territory of Denmark with limited self-government -- its own parliament and premier, but no foreign policy. After Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the idea of a sale as "absurd," Trump set off a diplomatic incident by canceling a state visit to the NATO ally where he was supposed to be hosted by the country's Queen Margrethe II.
-snip-
The U.S. sees financial, strategic openings as its ice sheet dangerously melts.
ByConor Finnegan
23 April 2020, 12:12
11 min read
It isn't President Donald Trump's opening bid. But his administration announced Thursday it will provide a $12 million aid package to Greenland for economic development, raising eyebrows in Denmark, which has sovereignty over the island, and firing off a volley in the emerging competition with Russia and China for power in the Arctic.
The world's largest island, Greenland is home to the only permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica, covering four-fifths of its 836,000 square miles. As the planet's temperature rises and its climate changes, that ice sheet has seen historic melting, potentially endangering life on Earth.
But with that melt, the Trump administration sees an important strategic opportunity, racing to push back on Russia's growing military presence in the Arctic and China's economic push into the region.
In what was mistaken for a joke at first last August, Trump said his administration was looking into purchasing Greenland, which may hold vast oil or mineral resources beneath that ice sheet and sits at a critical location at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean's northernmost stretches and the Arctic Ocean.
His offer was rebuffed by Greenlandic and Danish officials. Greenland is a territory of Denmark with limited self-government -- its own parliament and premier, but no foreign policy. After Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the idea of a sale as "absurd," Trump set off a diplomatic incident by canceling a state visit to the NATO ally where he was supposed to be hosted by the country's Queen Margrethe II.
-snip-
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-buy-greenland-us-island-12m-economic-development/story?id=70305163
______________________________________________________________________
Source: Associated Press
Greenland ready to take US aid but won’t accept conditions
The Associated Press
April 23, 2020, 12:00 PM
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Greenlanders said Thursday they welcome U.S. investment in their island, but the money has to come without conditions.
The U.S administration is expected to announce the opening of a U.S. Agency for International Development office at the new American consulate in the capital, Nuuk, and confirm at least $12 million in new aid projects.
The announcement, expected Thursday in Washington, will come less than a year after President Donald Trump drew derision for expressing an interest in buying Greenland, which is part of the Danish Realm. Already, suggestions of a greater U.S. presence in Greenland have been met with criticism in Greenland and in Denmark.
The Inuit government said in a statement preceding the announcement that the U.S. government had decided to allocate $12.1 million for projects in Greenland., focused on economic development including the mineral industry, tourism and education. The local government said it had accepted the offer.
-snip-
An op-ed earlier this week by the American ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, previewed the announcement and said the U.S. would be “the preferred partner in the Arctic.” That sparked harsh reactions in Denmark.
-snip-
The Associated Press
April 23, 2020, 12:00 PM
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Greenlanders said Thursday they welcome U.S. investment in their island, but the money has to come without conditions.
The U.S administration is expected to announce the opening of a U.S. Agency for International Development office at the new American consulate in the capital, Nuuk, and confirm at least $12 million in new aid projects.
The announcement, expected Thursday in Washington, will come less than a year after President Donald Trump drew derision for expressing an interest in buying Greenland, which is part of the Danish Realm. Already, suggestions of a greater U.S. presence in Greenland have been met with criticism in Greenland and in Denmark.
The Inuit government said in a statement preceding the announcement that the U.S. government had decided to allocate $12.1 million for projects in Greenland., focused on economic development including the mineral industry, tourism and education. The local government said it had accepted the offer.
-snip-
An op-ed earlier this week by the American ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, previewed the announcement and said the U.S. would be “the preferred partner in the Arctic.” That sparked harsh reactions in Denmark.
-snip-
Read more: https://wtop.com/europe/2020/04/greenland-ready-to-take-us-aid-but-wont-accept-conditions/