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The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

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Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#81

Post by throw__away7391 »

fny wrote: post #8

There are a few things that confuse me about this potential acquisition: 1. You won't govern it. Greenland has it's own Self-Government Act. [0] 2. You won't own the land. Almost all land is owned by the State. [1] 3. The Danes have no special land ownership rights. [2] 4. Land use rights, however, are granted for different activities (fishing, mining) subject to approval. [3] I'd imagine none of this changes under a…

You're overthinking this. These are just stupid people. Think of the dumbest uncle you have ranting online over some ridiculous story. These are the people making these decisions, and they're putting about the same amount of planning into them.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#82

Post by joakleaf »

haritha-j wrote: post #50

For decades Europe has cheered on, if not actively aided as America bullied smaller nations. Now they’ve come to realise they aren’t so special.

Europe has not just "cheered on". There were demonstrations throughout Europe against the wars in the middle east and both e.g. France and Germany openly opposed the war in Iraq.

The Europeans I know (from all over) have generally been opposed to American geopolitics both in the Middle East, South East Asia, and South America. The US has traditionally been seen as an ally, but that doesn't mean we "cheer on" its actions.

Because there are many financial and military interests, it is very hard to do much for e.g. the EU, and the politicians are very careful with their words. Just as it is for the rest of the world...

Note: Europe is not a single entity but a continent full of different countries including (part of) Russia. Even the EU doesn't really have one single foreign policy.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#83

Post by mothballed »

ablation wrote: post #75
fny wrote: post #8

There are a few things that confuse me about this potential acquisition: 1. You won't govern it. Greenland has it's own Self-Government Act. [0] 2. You won't own the land. Almost all land is owned by the State. [1] 3. The Danes have no special land ownership rights. [2] 4. Land use rights, however, are granted for different activities (fishing, mining) subject to approval. [3] I'd imagine none of this changes under a…

> > It seems like that's exactly what it would have to do post acquisition--unless of course the US also plans to bulldoze Greenland's sovereignty. I don't want to repeat what others are saying, but how on earth could you not consider that all of the existing rules, laws and agreements just go in the trash under a new "owner"? Of course the US plans to bulldoze Greenland's sovereignty, goodness me.

To be fair the US acquired American Samoa and kept a lot of their law in place even to the point you can do stuff in American Samoa that would be unconstitutional like limit power of women in some of the tribal councils (sorry they have a better name but I've forgotten), do not provide 2nd amendment protections required inside the USA, and limit ownership of land based on ethnic lines.

The USA also for instance rehabilitated Philippines from Japanese rape islands into an independent nation by taking them as a territory.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#84

Post by [deleted] »

madspindel wrote: post #19

As a Swede I must confess I don't know much about Greenland. But if Denmark goes all-in on Greenland, you can bet the other Nordic countries will be involved too. Not sure how this will play out. Really strange situation and as I said I don't even know how much Denmark cares about Greenland. Any Danes here that can tell us more?

[deleted]

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#85

Post by TrackerFF »

My prediction of how a hostile takeover would work out - i.e. all US offers to purchase Greenland are flat rejected:

0. USA invades Greenland by shipping thousands of troops there, Denmark does the same. I don't believe there will be any direct conflict, but rather that US simply declares they now control Greenland.

1. Denmark invokes a number of NATO articles, immediately.

2. NATO crisis, all members meet in hopes to work it out.

3. Trump won't budge. USA uses their veto right on all possible interventions. NATO still stands, but is at this point in complete turmoil, and effectively toothless.

4. Allies of Denmark, probably EU too, puts pressure on the US to step back. Economic sanctions against US.

5. Sanction war starts between USA and parts of western Europe.

6. Congress does not authorize Trumps use of military, and Trump must withdraw within 90 days.

7. Trump vetoes this. Pulls the "make me" card when threatened. Trump argues that he can use funds as he wishes, dragged to court. The case is fast-tracked to supreme court.

8. If US economy crashes, Trump might be successfully impeached and removed. If not, he'll just continue.

9. Cold front between US and Europe. China tries to strengthen economic ties with Europe to fill the gap that has been hit by US sanctions. Who knows what Russia does - likely a new European military organization has grown out of this.

10. Eventually Trump leaves office, a sooner or later a new democratic president takes over, and reverses everything. Gives back Greenland to Denmark, does everything to mend relations with Europe.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#86

Post by polotics »

arethuza wrote: post #27
hahahahhaah wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Always has been. Big powers have always been meddling in other nations.

"The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must" Thucydides

Sure, the Melian order of the world is something one could consider as always there. Still, how much of Thucydides still applies when cheap drones, nuclear MAD, and environmental tragedy-of-the-commons are taken into account?

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/04/the-realists-gr... ...

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#87

Post by adamtulinius »

Y-bar wrote: post #38
drekipus wrote: post #2

I guess we should be praying for Jens-Frederik Nielsen's family now

He shouldn't have terrorized USA with stuff like Hygge and Ozempic and those Vestas cancer-causing wind propellers!

Jens-Frederik Nielsen is the PM of Greenland, while all the things you mention are from Denmark.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#88

Post by Y-bar »

mothballed wrote: post #76
danmaz74 wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, as someone who firmly opposes what Putin did, there were better "historical justifications" for Russia to annex Crimea than for the USA to colonize Greenland, a territory that has never been part of the USA. The idea of invading an ally's territory just to steal its resources is particularly shameful and disgusting.

Denmark would likely low key love to shitcan greenland. They are a massive money drain, welfare state. Their minerals exist but not enough to turn the place net positive to their colonizer. If Denmark could come "steal" something like the Pine Ridge Reservation in the Dakotas, it would be an imperfect analogy. As long as we could lose it while still saving face, it would be absolutely amazing economically for the USA…

Denmark sent about 4,3 Billion Danish Krona to Greenland last year, this is about 0.6% of Denmark's budget. For a nation that made a surplus of about 130 Billion in 2025 it does not seem like a something Danes in general want or need to shitcan.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#89

Post by metalman »

there is good reason to believe that mineral prices would have to climb 30% above current prices and stay there, before greenland's resources would become profiable, which in the scenario bieng presented, would then also have to cover the 600 million/yr subsidy that Denmark currently provides to Greenland. there are only two active mines there, both very specialised, and quite small on a tonage basis and a handfull of somewhat promising sites that could be developed useing conventional technology, the rest is speculative, and will remain that way, sitting under miles of ice. Speaking of specualtion, it is so cold on top of the ice sometimes that people have suggested that there the possibilty of CO² ice forming naturaly, but there is no way for humans to get to those places, so it will remain an esoteric debate for now.

Re: The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice

#90

Post by oneeyedpigeon »

TrackerFF wrote: post #85

My prediction of how a hostile takeover would work out - i.e. all US offers to purchase Greenland are flat rejected: 0. USA invades Greenland by shipping thousands of troops there, Denmark does the same. I don't believe there will be any direct conflict, but rather that US simply declares they now control Greenland. 1. Denmark invokes a number of NATO articles, immediately. 2. NATO crisis, all members meet in hopes t…

> does everything to mend relations with Europe.

As a European, I don't think the relations can be fully mended, especially if points 0-9 come to pass! Even where we stand right now, I want my government—in conjunction with other European countries—to be planning for a long, slow process of decoupling our dependency on the US.

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