Realistic way to "liberate" Greenland and have it join the US

[TopShelfGoal]

I don't agree with Trump much but his proposal to acquire Greenland was very interesting. Greenland provides tremendous strategic, military and in the future monetary value as the arctic gets warmer. Ofcourse Trump went the wrong way about it. The reality is Denmark doesn't need to be involved at all. It doesn't matter if they want to sell Greenland or not. According to their constitution Greenland has the right to self determination and can declare independence from Denmark anytime with a referendum voted on by the people of Greenland.

Greenland's population is only ~56,000 people. What if we grease the wheels to get them to declare independence from Denmark and join the US? What if the US offers 1 million dollars to every Greenlander to declare independence from Denmark and pledge to join the US, financially, this will only cost 56 billion, this is basically pocket change for the government and a small investment that will pay huge dividends. Plus we match the yearly subsidy they get from Denmark. Plus each Greenlander gets a US citizenship. Plus they get representation in congress. We can sweeten the pot a bit more if needed by offering various perks like sklll/education training for current greenlanders at US institutions for free and some pledges to develop infrastructure in Greenland.

I cannot see how the people of Greenland could say no that offer. Do you think this approach would work?

[T'Chenka]

Of course indigenous people who live around massive icebergs would want to leave Denmark to become citizens of a country that doesn't believe in environmentalism, climate change and native rights.

[Estrella]

I don't agree with Trump much but his proposal to acquire Greenland was very interesting. Greenland provides tremendous strategic, military and in the future monetary value as the arctic gets warmer. Ofcourse Trump went the wrong way about it. The reality is Denmark doesn't need to be involved at all. It doesn't matter if they want to sell Greenland or not. According to their constitution Greenland has the right to self determination and can declare independence from Denmark anytime with a referendum voted on by the people of Greenland.

Greenland's population is only ~56,000 people. What if we grease the wheels to get them to declare independence from Denmark and join the US? What if the US offers 1 million dollars to every Greenlander to declare independence from Denmark and pledge to join the US, financially, this will only cost 56 billion, this is basically pocket change for the government and a small investment that will pay huge dividends. Plus we match the yearly subsidy they get from Denmark. Plus each Greenlander gets a US citizenship. Plus they get representation in congress. We can sweeten the pot a bit more if needed by offering various perks like sklll/education training for current greenlanders at US institutions for free and some pledges to develop infrastructure in Greenland.

I cannot see how the people of Greenland could say no that offer. Do you think this approach would work?

Apart from the 1 million per head thing, which isn't happening even if US somehow miraculously manages to convince Greenland to join (haha), Denmark already provides Greenland literally everything you mentioned. You're gonna need to find much better bargaining chips.

This is actually one of the best posts on this forum. Not intentionally; but it's the best encapsulation of the stale, embarassing circus act known as American exceptionalism that I've seen:
— basic social services like free education and infrastructure spending are seen as near-riduculous generosity
— as for the "wow, we'll give you representation in Congress", well duh, Greenland already sends people to Folketing. Not every country is as institutionally sclerotic as the US
— as for the "wow, if you join our country we might even let you have our passports" - well, most countries have grown out of treating random parts of their territory like colonies
— the Manifest Destiny creed that territorial expansion (at any cost) is everything, realities of 21st century foreign relations and basic logic be damned
— uncritical belief that the American way is the best, regardless of whether it actually is or whether the would-be subjects even want it

I'm not really blaming you, OP. You actually sound pretty reasonable, but the fact that a reasonable person is making arguments like this speaks volumes about America's national mentality.

[Person Man]

I don't agree with Trump much but his proposal to acquire Greenland was very interesting. Greenland provides tremendous strategic, military and in the future monetary value as the arctic gets warmer. Ofcourse Trump went the wrong way about it. The reality is Denmark doesn't need to be involved at all. It doesn't matter if they want to sell Greenland or not. According to their constitution Greenland has the right to self determination and can declare independence from Denmark anytime with a referendum voted on by the people of Greenland.

Greenland's population is only ~56,000 people. What if we grease the wheels to get them to declare independence from Denmark and join the US? What if the US offers 1 million dollars to every Greenlander to declare independence from Denmark and pledge to join the US, financially, this will only cost 56 billion, this is basically pocket change for the government and a small investment that will pay huge dividends. Plus we match the yearly subsidy they get from Denmark. Plus each Greenlander gets a US citizenship. Plus they get representation in congress. We can sweeten the pot a bit more if needed by offering various perks like sklll/education training for current greenlanders at US institutions for free and some pledges to develop infrastructure in Greenland.

I cannot see how the people of Greenland could say no that offer. Do you think this approach would work?

Apart from the 1 million per head thing, which isn't happening even if US somehow miraculously manages to convince Greenland to join (haha), Denmark already provides Greenland literally everything you mentioned. You're gonna need to find much better bargaining chips.

This is actually one of the best posts on this forum. Not intentionally; but it's the best encapsulation of the stale, embarassing circus act known as American exceptionalism that I've seen:
— basic social services like free education and infrastructure spending are seen as near-riduculous generosity
— as for the "wow, we'll give you representation in Congress", well duh, Greenland already sends people to Folketing. Not every country is as institutionally sclerotic as the US
— as for the "wow, if you join our country we might even let you have our passports" - well, most countries have grown out of treating random parts of their territory like colonies
— the Manifest Destiny creed that territorial expansion (at any cost) is everything, realities of 21st century foreign relations and basic logic be damned
— uncritical belief that the American way is the best, regardless of whether it actually is or whether the would-be subjects even want it

I'm not really blaming you, OP. You actually sound pretty reasonable, but the fact that a reasonable person is making arguments like this speaks volumes about America's national mentality.

Damn.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

— uncritical belief that the American way is the best, regardless of whether it actually is or whether the would-be subjects even want it

... and call this liberation.

Greenland is mostly self-governed at this point. There is no reason for them to subordinate themselves to the US government which might meddle with their affairs. Besides, I don't see how the Greenlandish legal, social, economic, and educational system could be incorporated in the US system with the Greenlanders getting the better end of it. Greenland has a single-payer-healthcare system, free education, and student grants for students who attend university. There is no reason to join a country that mistakenly thinks that these are not good things. It would be a good start for the US to treat their actual territories in the way OP described.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Greenland ought to be independent, not exchange one colonial power for another.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Based on what little I know about Greenland, a referendum on joining the U.S. would go about 98-2 against, and with good reason.

[GP270watch]

 They'd probably turn down $1,000,000 USD in a heartbeat because our social services suck.

Health care services are primarily the responsibility of the government of Greenland. The health care system is obligated to deliver equal health care to all citizens regardless of their place of residence; all health care services are free – including the prescribed medicine.

[beaver2.0]

If we'd really wanted it after WW2 seems like a better time to have acquired it.  It would have been fairly useful during the Cold War.

[Pick Up the Phone]

What if we grease the wheels to get them to declare independence from Denmark and join the US? What if the US offers 1 million dollars to every Greenlander to declare independence from Denmark and pledge to join the US, financially, this will only cost 56 billion, this is basically pocket change for the government and a small investment that will pay huge dividends.

This would severely damage not only Danish-U.S. but also E.U.-U.S. relations for many decades to come. Completely absurd to even think about it. And as Estrella has already mentioned, joining the U.S. is really not something many countries/regions in this part of the world would consider desirable...

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

We don't need Greenland, and it is subject to greenhouse effect, from oil drilling, since I've caps are melting

[HillGoose]

USA just needs to gather a coalition of the willing to go fight Polar Bear Saddam and liberate Greenland brah

[Santander]

Greenland ought to be independent, not exchange one colonial power for another.

Greenland is independent, but under the diplomatic and military protection of Denmark. Precisely, in fact, to counter foreign aggression like described in this thread.

[GP270watch]

USA just needs to gather a coalition of the willing to go fight Polar Bear Saddam and liberate Greenland brah

We got Japan, they're sending Playstations...

[Kingpoleon]

Of course indigenous people who live around massive icebergs would want to leave Denmark to become citizens of a country that doesn't believe in environmentalism, climate change and native rights.

Indigenous rights are pretty strong in America.

[TopShelfGoal]

They'd probably turn down $1,000,000 USD in a heartbeat because our social services suck.

Health care services are primarily the responsibility of the government of Greenland. The health care system is obligated to deliver equal health care to all citizens regardless of their place of residence; all health care services are free – including the prescribed medicine.

OK I'll sweeten the pot. I'll throw in that every one of the 56,000 people that live in Greeland are eligible for Medicare.

I would find it tough to turn down a million dollars per person. That's a hell of a lot of money and would improve the life of the average greenlander by quite a lot.

[Santander]

They'd probably turn down $1,000,000 USD in a heartbeat because our social services suck.

Health care services are primarily the responsibility of the government of Greenland. The health care system is obligated to deliver equal health care to all citizens regardless of their place of residence; all health care services are free – including the prescribed medicine.

OK I'll sweeten the pot. I'll throw in that every one of the 56,000 people that live in Greeland are eligible for Medicare.

I would find it tough to turn down a million dollars per person. That's a hell of a lot of money and would improve the life of the average greenlander by quite a lot.

This has to be trolling.

[7,052,770]

I would love to have Greenland be part of the US, but it would have to be done in an above-board, non-bribing way with the support of the Greenlandic people and Danish government.

[T'Chenka]

Of course indigenous people who live around massive icebergs would want to leave Denmark to become citizens of a country that doesn't believe in environmentalism, climate change and native rights.

Indigenous rights are pretty strong in America.

They could be better. You remember DAPL?

[Green Line]

I don't agree with Trump much but his proposal to acquire Greenland was very interesting. Greenland provides tremendous strategic, military and in the future monetary value as the arctic gets warmer. Ofcourse Trump went the wrong way about it. The reality is Denmark doesn't need to be involved at all. It doesn't matter if they want to sell Greenland or not. According to their constitution Greenland has the right to self determination and can declare independence from Denmark anytime with a referendum voted on by the people of Greenland.

Greenland's population is only ~56,000 people. What if we grease the wheels to get them to declare independence from Denmark and join the US? What if the US offers 1 million dollars to every Greenlander to declare independence from Denmark and pledge to join the US, financially, this will only cost 56 billion, this is basically pocket change for the government and a small investment that will pay huge dividends. Plus we match the yearly subsidy they get from Denmark. Plus each Greenlander gets a US citizenship. Plus they get representation in congress. We can sweeten the pot a bit more if needed by offering various perks like sklll/education training for current greenlanders at US institutions for free and some pledges to develop infrastructure in Greenland.

I cannot see how the people of Greenland could say no that offer. Do you think this approach would work?

This is actually one of the best posts on this forum. Not intentionally; but it's the best encapsulation of the stale, embarassing circus act known as American exceptionalism that I've seen:

Nah, you're responding to someone who is likely a child or underdeveloped in some other way, but you know that.  Literally nobody, "American Exceptionalists" included, is seriously interested in obtaining Greenland.  Its not a serious point of debate, full stop.  Yeah, there was a funny moment last year when Donald Trump threw a temper tantrum for a day and people let their imaginations run wild, and that was the extent of it.

This post WAS however a good excuse for some good old anti-American whining, and you certainly didn't miss a beat there.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Their two biggest parties are far to the left of the US Democratic party, so they would not be very happy with our politics.

[DINGO Joe]

If we'd really wanted it after WW2 seems like a better time to have acquired it.  It would have been fairly useful during the Cold War.

We did use it during the cold war.  Maintained a couple of military bases there.

[Former President tack50]

USA just needs to gather a coalition of the willing to go fight Polar Bear Saddam and liberate Greenland brah

This somehow seems more realistic to me than thr US giving 1 million to every Greenlander

[Nightcore Nationalist]

If we'd really wanted it after WW2 seems like a better time to have acquired it.  It would have been fairly useful during the Cold War.

We did use it during the cold war.  Maintained a couple of military bases there.

And accidentally dropped a nuke near one of the said bases.  H/T Mustard's video on operation Chrome Dome.


Greenland would be a fantastic future strategic and geopolitical card.

[Ye We Can]

Weird high school proposal aside, yes, we should attempt to acquire Greenland.