What Connects Greenland’s Ice and the Panama Canal? Trump’s Controversial Plan

Team Udayavani, Jan 10, 2025, 8:31 PM IST

After being re-elected, President-elect Donald Trump showed interest in buying Greenland and the Panama Canal.

During a press conference on Tuesday (January 7), Mr. Trump said he couldn’t promise that military or economic pressure wouldn’t be used to take control of both areas.

“We need them for economic security,” he said.

The two places are far apart but hold different interests for the incoming president.

However, his plan to take control of both has led to a lot of criticism.p

Why is Trump interested in Greenland?

Greenland, the largest island in the world, is a self-governing territory of Denmark. It has been connected to Denmark for 600 years and is home to about 57,000 people.

Greenland is a founding member of NATO and hosts a major U.S. military base.

Located in the Arctic Circle between the U.S., Russia, and Europe, Greenland holds a unique strategic position that America has been interested in for over 150 years.

Greenland is becoming even more important as the Arctic opens up for shipping and trade.

The idea of buying Greenland isn’t new for Trump; it first came up during his first term as president. He has since emphasized how it could help improve America’s national security.

“We need it for stronger national security,” Trump said. “I’ve been hearing this for a long time, even before I decided to run for president.”

“Most people don’t even realize Denmark has any legal claim to Greenland, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security,” Trump said.

Trump’s interest in Greenland happened around the same time his son, Donald Trump Jr., visited the island to film a documentary, according to NBC News, Sky News’ US partner.

Abundant in Natural Resources

Greenland is not just unique because of where it is—it’s also rich in natural resources.

Beneath its surface are rare earth. minerals essential for making telecommunications equipment, along with uranium. The island also holds billions of barrels of oil and large reserves of natural gas that were once out of reach but are now becoming easier to access.

Right now, most of these minerals come from China, but countries like the US are looking for ways to access resources that are closer to home.

Up-Close View of the Climate Crisis

Greenland is known for more than just its oil, gas, and minerals—it’s covered in massive amounts of ice. This makes it one of the best places to see how climate change is affecting our planet up close.

If the ice melts, it could change coastlines around the world by causing sea levels to rise. This might flood coastal areas and reshape the land near oceans. It could also lead to big changes in weather, affecting things like storms, rainfall, and temperatures in many places.

Greenland has so much ice that if it all melted, sea levels around the world could rise by 24 feet (7.4 meters).

Greenland also affects hurricanes and winter storms. Its massive ice sheets can change the jet stream, which is a powerful wind that moves storms around the world and impacts our daily weather.

Winter weather expert Judah Cohen explained to the Associated Press, as reported by Sky.com, that during winter, high-pressure systems near Greenland often block weather patterns. This causes freezing Arctic air to move south, bringing cold temperatures and harsh winter conditions to North America and Europe.

How might this impact the UK?

British politician and security expert Mike Martin shared on X that the waters between Greenland and the UK, with Iceland in the center, are extremely important for NATO, according to Sky News.

Mike Martin explained that during the Cold War, the UK usually had around 50 ships in the area to monitor the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. This gap is the “only practical route” for Russia’s northern fleet to enter the Atlantic Ocean.

The UK and Denmark both have a shared interest in keeping the GIUK gap secure.

According to the UK government, the country’s Arctic Policy Framework includes plans to work with Denmark to strengthen their military abilities in the region. This partnership helps the UK protect its own interests as well as those of its allies.

However, if the US takes control, this partnership between the UK and Denmark could be affected.

British foreign minister David Lammy told Sky News that Donald Trump’s comments were “typical of him.” Lammy explained that when Trump became president, he promised to focus on helping working-class Americans. Trump sees economic security for the United States as the key to protecting the country, which influences his approach to international partnerships.

That’s why he’s bringing up concerns about places like the Panama Canal and possibly Greenland,” Lammy explained.

He also said that while Trump’s approach can seem intense, there are serious national security and economic concerns behind his actions.

“Greenland Is Not Up for Sale”

In an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to Donald Trump’s comments, saying she didn’t believe the US would use military or economic power to take control of Greenland.

“Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen stated, emphasizing the importance of staying calm and sticking to their principles.

She called the US Denmark’s “closest and most important ally” and said she welcomed America’s increased interest in the Arctic. However, she stressed that any involvement must respect the rights and wishes of the people of Greenland.

In the past, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has expressed a desire for Greenland to become independent from Denmark. However, he has made it clear that he has no interest in the island becoming part of the United States.

Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic representative in the Danish parliament, also shared her thoughts, saying, “Most people don’t want this.”

She explained that many find the idea disrespectful, especially the way it has been brought up. “The fact that someone even suggests you can buy another country feels offensive to many,” she added.

Why does Trump have an interest in the Panama Canal?

The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It serves as a shortcut for ships, making it faster and cheaper to transport goods, according to the Embassy of Panama’s website.

In 1979, during President Jimmy Carter’s administration, the United States transferred control of the canal to Panama. By 1999, the US had fully ended its joint control of this important trade route.

The Panama Canal is now managed by the Panama Canal Authority, an independent government organization. However, according to NBC, a contractor based in Hong Kong runs two ports linked to the canal.

Donald Trump has argued that the United States is being treated unfairly because its ships are charged higher fees to use the canal compared to ships from other countries.

Donald Trump claimed that Panama is breaking its agreement with the United States and accused China of “basically taking control” of the Panama Canal.

“We handed the Panama Canal to Panama, not to China,” Trump said on Tuesday (7th Jan). “They have taken advantage of what we gave them.”

Last month, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino firmly dismissed claims that China has control over the Panama Canal. In a video statement, he also rejected the idea of the United States regaining authority over the canal.

He explained that the Panama Canal is completely owned by Panama, emphasizing, “Every part of the canal belongs to Panama and always will.” His message was clear: Panama remains in full control of the canal, and there is no foreign influence over its operations.

Authored by Girish Linganna, Defense Analyst 
(The author of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: [email protected] )