President Trump's strong stances and language regarding the critical importance of Greenland for US security have not only added fuel to the "fire of hostilities" in Beijing and Moscow, but also to "debates about the international (il)legitimacy" of the chancelleries or the European bureaucracy. Unable to respond to every television studio, here is a summary of the geographical position, economic interests and strategic importance of this (super)island for the US, NATO, and the hope for a New Global Security Order:
Written by: General Piro Ahmetaj
Greenland's position, circumstances and geostrategic weight:
In 1814, Greenland, the largest island in the world (twice the size of France and Germany combined), came under the Danish crown; in 1953 it overcame the status of a "colony" and in 2008, it gained full self-government. Although it is mostly made up of uninhabited glaciers, its subsoil contains rare minerals, such as lithium, copper, graphite, etc., which serve as essential materials for modern technologies.
Beyond the cacophony of the omniscient and omnipresent in television studios; despite the poisonous machinery of disinformation, deep fakes and Mr. Macron's contradictions, or the terror of Putinists, etc., it is worth bringing to public attention that the surface area, i.e. the territorial entirety of Greenland, is over 2.166 million km² (about 10 times more than the 6 countries of the Western Balkans, i.e. the Republic of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia), but with a population of less than 57 thousand inhabitants and a very modest GDP, around 6 billion euros.
Located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, as well as at the crossroads of North America and Europe, Greenland's geostrategic position holds essential weight for US missile defense, as well as for the responsibility of exercising NATO's Article 5. At the same time, it holds critical weight in the rivalry and maintenance of US military supremacy against Russia and China. Therefore, since World War II, military installations (air and space bases) have been an integral part of the US missile defense and surveillance system.
Considering the area, geographical position, distance (over 3.500 km from Copenhagen), as well as military (lack of) power, it is well known and widely accepted that Denmark is completely unable to exercise, “on its own or even in an Alliance with the 31 NATO countries (without the USA)”, the protection of the territorial integrity, economic resources and geostrategic interests of the super-Island, or even alone – face potential enemies such as Russia and China. The same applies in coalition with France, or even with all EU countries, which are not only not exposed to the threats that the island’s geostrategic position poses but also do not have military power comparable to the USA.
The critical importance of the island to US missile defense and geostrategic interests:
The strong US approach to Greenland did not come in a year, nor only during President Trump's first term, since, like the island's geostrategic importance, American efforts have been constant. Thus, the US has negotiated to purchase it from Denmark for $100 million since 1946, until President Trump's latest offer: $100 for each inhabitant, or about $5.7 billion in 2025. Denmark has firmly rejected this offer, as "the island is seen as an integral part of the kingdom, as well as of national identity and sovereignty." However, in 1951 Denmark and the US signed the "Greenland Defense Agreement", which (without violating territorial integrity) allows the US to have a military presence, i.e. to build bases, as an integral part of the US and NATO missile/air defense umbrella, as/whenever deemed necessary.
Although President Trump has never mentioned the "military occupation of Greenland", it is also a fait accompli, as in the arrest of the bandit-Maduro, he has made it very clear that: "The United States will not take permission from anyone to use military force against any country that poses a threat to the territorial integrity, life, standards and way of life of the American people". This demonstration of force, or as the determination of Project Trump-2: "peace imposed through the use of force", which also serves as an additional guarantee for the protection of the 32 NATO countries (Article-5).
The US approach to Greenland goes beyond the crisis of facade democracy and (without) the bureaucratic power of the EU, as well as the inglorious end of the UNSC in 1945. To illustrate, a few examples would suffice, such as the Srebrenica genocide in the eyes or presence of the blue helmets; 22 years of negotiations and resolutions against the Ayatollah of Iran to ban its nuclear programs; Russia's military aggression against Ukraine; to the arrest of Maduro, who had transformed Venezuela into a Russian-Chinese and narco-terrorism haven, threatening the lives, security, and interests of the US.
In addition, the surrender of islands or territories in exchange for agreements is not an unknown precedent. For example, the UK handed over to Mauritius the Chagos Islands, which it had been administering since 1815, for more than 210 years. While the “European revolt” led by France reminds us of the resistance to the obligation of 2% of GDP for defense as well as the 2019 positions of Mr. Macron: “NATO is experiencing clinical death, as Washington is turning its back on Europe”. Meanwhile, 6 years later, like all NATO countries, France has gone from 1 to +2% of GDP!
Messages or bells that don't just ring for Greenland:
Despite the Enverist oscillations of “US/international gendarme” and the old order based on “free security/gift from the US”, in the New Global Order, dominated by the unrivaled power and interests of the US: “Protection of sovereignty and development of geopolitical interests of the Republic of Albania and Kosovo can only be achieved by further strengthening strategic cooperation with the US and NATO”. Fortunately, I find this option intertwined with US interests in the region and the Mediterranean, as well as reciprocal to the nationwide gratitude for the 114-year support of the US for the independence of the Republic of Albania and the liberation of Kosovo; for NATO membership, the establishment of SPAK, etc., as well as to the contributions of the Republic of Albania after 1996, where over 12 thousand men and women in uniform have served alongside American troops in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.
Reiterating the participation of the Republic of Albania/Kosovo as "co-founders of the Trump Peace Board; the increase in the Defense Budget as well as the agreement (not the Alliance!) between Croatia, Kosovo and the Republic of Albania in the field of defense", I would advise state actors in Tirana and Pristina to bow to their knees before the bloody history to give life to the Platform: "2-Sovereign States, 1-One Nation", which will contribute to peace and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the 6 countries of the Western Balkans.
Despite the frightening return of the arms race in the Balkans and Serbia's arming to the teeth, I see the Republic of Albania's target of 5% of GDP as international legitimacy (USA/NATO/EU), but also as a historic opportunity for the development of military power, including deterrence capacities against any country or alliance that threatens the sovereignty and geopolitical interests of the Republic of Albania and Kosovo.
Meanwhile, to overcome this hybrid crossroads: "the state gripped by endemic corruption, the opposition/company bankrupt and disgusted", restoring faith in functional democracy and balanced powers remains not only priority No. 1, but also the vital mission of all Albanians.
In summary, reiterating the critical importance of strengthening the strategic partnership with the US, I remain confident that thanks to the unrivaled American military power: "the hope of peace, the new global order and the values of civilization will triumph over neo-Stalinists and neo-Milosevics, over bureaucratic democracy and failed states, as well as over narco-terrorist organizations or gangs."
/ Panorama newspaper
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