Trump threatens to gain control of Greenland

RUSSIA
GREENLANDCANADADENMARKU.S.CHINA

GREENLAND
Population: 57,000
Area: 2,166,086 sq km
Status: Autonomous Danish territory with self-government
Economy: Despite boasting vast oil, gas, and rare earth mineral reserves, island depends heavily on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark, which cover roughly half of public budget

1946: U.S. President Harry Truman offers $100 million for Greenland, but Denmark declines
1953: Colony becomes formal territory of Denmark
2009: Granted broad self-governing autonomy, excluding only foreign affairs and defence
2019: Greenland and Denmark reject Trump’s offer to buy island

Arctic Circle
250 miles
400km
GREENLAND (Denmark)
Ellesmere I. (CANADA)
ICELAND
Svalbard (NORWAY)
Nuuk
ARCTIC OCEAN
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Pituffik Space Base: U.S. base for missile warning system

Donald Trump
U.S. President-elect has refused to rule out using military to pursue acquisition of Greenland, which he says is vital to U.S. national security

Mute Egede
Greenland Prime Minister, who is pushing for independence, has said that island is not for sale and that its future should be determined by its people

Mette Frederiksen
Danish Prime Minister has said that “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders”, and has stressed need for close co-operation with U.S., NATO ally

Sources: Reuters, BBC
Pictures: Getty Images
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