INTERNATIONAL ANGLES
It’s not for sale: Greenland and the Moderation of Colonialism 
sawsanwahedi

Image by Hyotographics on Dreamstime.com.

Human nature is acquisitive – the more possessions we get our hands on, the greedier we get. Which is why until this day, the world is going through a political turmoil in regards to answering the question, is it enough? And what shall we get next? These kinds of questions have triggered military campaigns and states to move along the scenario and the imagery they have illustrated in their minds. Leading them to glorify their movements and go ahead with their target regardless of the outcomes and circumstances.

From a historical perspective, military campaigns are the number one means to expand a territory within a state. The continuation of the aforementioned combats has led the act to be labelled and known to be “colonialism”. From a political point of view, colonialism refers to every entry and take in of lands without the state’s consent. This has been the ongoing view towards expansion back in the day, which has added potential and dilemma into the geopolitical context of the landscape. Although colonialism is a term and act of the past, modern politics is bringing the term back into action again with the ongoing geopolitical tension between the US and Greenland.

Our digital platforms in the last few weeks have been bombarded with heated discussion concerning President Trump’s allegation and serious intention of buying Greenland. Yes – buying off, as (I give you money) and (you give me what I want). At the beginning everyone thought it was just one of President Trump’s extended and open-ended allegations and nothing to take seriously. But the American administration was serious about it as policy makers and even recently Vice President Vance made a very short visit to Greenland. Although citizens of Greenland opposed the visit of the Vice President along with his wife, the Second Lady Usha, the plans were made and the visit took place. Politically speaking, the visit had multiple hidden messages. From the choice of time, uniform and all the way to the short declaration and speech that was made by the Vice President in the base.

Image available at https://www.bbc.co.uk

Throughout the visit, multiple remarks were made by Vice President Vance, as he suggested and argued that Greenland should be maintained and protected by and through the US. This resulted in a huge backlash from people of Greenland, policy makers and even judicial officials who view these kinds of remarks as a modern form of Colonialism. That did not stop here. Vice President Vance has politically named and shamed Denmark publicly on their own geographic land by mocking their policies and mainly the way they have done the minimum in regard to protecting Greenland. As he said in a message to Denmark ‘You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland’.

Since the visit, the media have started to analyse the potential outcomes of such statements that were made on a land that one was clearly not welcome to be in. Although the parliament have decided against it and laughed in mockery in regards to every statement made by the US administration and even Vice President Vance during his visit, one can still not underestimate the seriousness of tones and statements that are still being thrown from time to time as a reminder of what might happen in the near future. 

People’s voices will always be heard.

Prior to Vice President Vance’s visit, protests were roaming around the biggest cities, all uniting under the umbrella of nationalism and pride when it comes to their land and what they want as citizens living on this land. It is true that Greenland has had political domestic tensions of their own for some time, but when it comes to being part of another land, unity will always be the armour they fight with. And they did. 

Although it has been claimed that Usha Vance’s visit is based on a special invitation from the American Daybreak in regards to a dogsled race, organisers of the race have stated that she was not specifically invited – in fact, it’s a public event that anyone can join in. But looking at the time of the event and weighing down to the political statements and events, it was a chance for the Vice President to shoot his shot as he did, and turn the friendly public event into something more sincere and political in an indirect manner. People have demonstrated their distress and rejection by first turning their backs to Usha’s motorcade as she landed and the protests were going on. Second came in people’s statements as Minik Lange, a resident of Sisimiut have said “We are also aware that there are a lot of propaganda from the president to the American population that we want to be American citizens. That is one huge lie from him”. The American tensions with Greenland have also caused a huge gap in regards to Greenlanders not welcoming visitors from the US, although it is known that Greenlanders have always been welcoming and accepting of people from all around the world regardless views and differences. But this particular visit was not welcomed due to legal and geopolitical reasons that might cost a land its independence. As Jacob Nordstrom put it  “Most Greenlanders welcome tourists from the United States, but obviously this was not a tourist visit,” . 

Image from https://www.ft.com/

With all the displeasure and disapproval of the Vance’s visit to Greenland from people of the land and other viewers who are watching the protests and statements made through their digital devices, the Vance’s have still made sure to visit the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland and made further allegations and statements. 

People of Greenland and its policy makers are not on board with President Trump’s ambition of buying off the land and making it part of the US. Some might say that Greenland was used as a base for radio systems and other war-related missions during the World Wars, which was true. But in the meantime, and with all the international law protecting a state’s interests and integrity, a land can’t be bought off the market easily. Or in simpler words, it’s not for sale. 

According to the UN’s General Assembly’s resolution 1514 that was adopted in 1960 . It’s has been stated that 

          ‘All States shall observe faithfully and strictly the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the present Declaration on the basis of equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of all States, and respect for the sovereign rights of all peoples and their territorial integrity’.

And with that, the whole idea and notion of bringing colonialism back through the justification of security and military shall be rejected and only justified through International Law and what it has to offer in this regard.  The world is facing a crucial moment and not every citizen within the US is on board with that. Which is why it’s important to value one’s modifications and decisions and try to stay calm as tension through the media increases and gets more intense by the day. 

What’s next? 

It’s up the people of Greenland to decide, and the picture is getting clearer by the day as citizens and even the parliament are against making Greenland part of the US. Greenland may have been a land used for multiple purposes in the past, but with globalization and modernization, it’s an independent part of a greater union and history, and no one can ever deny that. 

Written By Sawsan Adel, an Author and Postgraduate Student of International Humanitarian Affairs at the University of York. 

References 

United Nations. (1960, December 14). Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. OHCHR. Retrieved from Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples | OHCHR

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