$1T Land Deal
As President Trump departs for Davos, it is becoming increasingly likely that the United States may purchase Greenland from Denmark with a price tag rumored at $1T. This land deal would mark the largest of the land deals ever completed for the United States.
The two largest previous deals being The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France for $15,000,000 (yes the same price in nominal dollars as a flashy Beverly Hills home today) and The Alaska Purchase from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2M which was termed "Seward's Folly" under the belief the United States overpaid for a vast frozen tundra.
Greenland offers the United States, and indeed both Europe and Canada, the opportunity for increased defense against potential adversaries capable of launching intercontinental missiles that would fly over the Article Circle on the shortest flight path into the United States. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the first time the United States has attempted to negotiate for the purchase of Greenland. It is just the latest salvo, this time very public, of the United States trying to shore up its northern defense.
Indeed, the United States has tried to purchase Greenland on three successive occasions before; in 1867 by Seward, in 1910, and most recently in 1946 after World War II. All previous attempts had been rebuffed, with the latest after World War II cementing Denmark's control of a landmass FIFTY (50X) times its size, but 1/120th its population. 1946 was a missed opportunity, especially as the United States aptly entered the Cold War.
Interestingly over the past weekend, 8 NATO countries deployed troops to Greenland on the concern of President Trump's desire to buy Greenland. Yet these same countries for some odd reason have not deployed a single trop to Ukraine for an intense land battle with Russia which is entering its 4th year. Millions injured, hundreds of thousands killed, and complete societal change in Ukraine yet seemingly only Poland has stepped up to the plate.
The dynamics of the European mind are mysterious. Denmark acts like a domain squatter who has allowed use of a war prize from the 1300s to the United States to benefit it and Europe, while refusing to let the protector of Europe (USA) to develop this asset for global security.
Time will tell how the chips fall, but Denmark has the opportunity to cash in on an asset they have long done nothing with and provide the United States, Canada, and Europe with additional defensive resources.
