Out of the 13 Non-Arctic Members in the Arctic
Council, Germany has bigger say in influencing and persuading Denmark regarding
the explosive issue raised by Trump over the acquisition of Greenland by America.
That boils down to one matrix: appease or oppose.
Here are the hard facts:
1. Russia has the largest share of the Arctic front with a 53% stake. Then comes Canada, Greenland and USA followed by other member countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Denmark as the possessor of autonomous territory of Greenland has vicarious ownership in Arctic Ocean.
2. Greenland, being the largest Island in the world, has an area of 836,000 square miles, nearly two-third within the Arctic Ocean with a perennial ice cover of 80%. Yet, in terms of fronting Arctic Ocean, she ranks third after Russia & Canada.
3. The value of Greenland lies in her natural resources, strategic position in Northern Sea navigation and security set-up between three powers, namely USA, Europe and Russia.
4. American interest on Greenland dates back to the 19th Century immediately after she has acquired, Alaska from the Russians in 1867.
5. As a post WW II defensive measure the US took
over the defence of Greenland in 1946 overriding Denmark. President Harry
Truman had the gumption to offer Denmark $100 million in gold for the island, a bid that was turned down immediately.
In terms of strategy amid geoeconomics, Germany has
to tread a careful and calculated way when dealing with this divisive issue. Ostensibly, there are two choices:
appease America and persuade Denmark to acquiesce to American demand or oppose America
and be at crosshairs of the hegemon.
Both have pros and cons. Appeasing brings goodwill
from the hegemon but German Chancellor could suffer the fate of Neville
Chamberlain, British Prime minister who signed the Munich Agreement in 1938
with Adolf Hitler that backfired, despite bringing temporary respite. Opposing hegemon
would lead to further aggravating current economic and geoeconomics troubles. More
than that, it could damage
Germany’s position as leader of Western Europe.
The bottom line: Germany is facing the worst
dilemma after she was forced into support Ukraine War which has brought
devastation to German political and economic stature since the WW II ended.
Can there be a via-media?
This is the question that weigh on Friedrich Merz and his cabinet seriously. German cabinet must treat charting strategy amid geoeconomics as guiding pillar over all other issues in
order to survive from this Greenland Crisis!
Cheers!
Muthu Ashraff Rajulu
Strategy Adviser
Mobile: + 94 777 265677
E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com
Blog: Strategy Adviser
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