Where is the territory and who controls it?

US President-elect Donald Trump has repeated his intention to take management of Greenland, the Arctic territory managed by Denmark.

Why is Trump speaking about this – and why now?

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is situated within the Arctic.

It’s the world’s most sparsely populated territory. About 56,000 individuals reside there, largely indigenous Inuit individuals.

About 80% of its territory is roofed by ice, which means most individuals reside on the south-western coast across the capital, Nuuk.

An autonomous territory of Denmark, it is usually residence to Danish and US navy bases.

The financial system is principally primarily based on fishing. Giant subsidies from the Danish authorities account for a couple of fifth of GDP.

In recent times, there was elevated curiosity in Greenland’s pure sources, together with mining for uncommon earth minerals, uranium and iron. These might turn into extra accessible as international warming results in among the ice overlaying Greenland to soften.

Positioned geographically inside North America, Greenland has been managed by Denmark – almost 3,000km (1,860 miles) away – for about 300 years.

The island was ruled as a colony till the mid-Twentieth Century. For a lot of this time, it remained remoted and poor.

In 1953, it was made a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders grew to become Danish residents.

In 1979, a referendum on residence rule gave Greenland management of most insurance policies throughout the territory, with Denmark retaining management over international affairs and defence.

The US has lengthy maintained a safety curiosity in Greenland. After Nazi Germany occupied mainland Denmark throughout World Struggle II, the US invaded Greenland, establishing navy and radio stations throughout the territory.

After the warfare, US forces remained in Greenland. Pituffik House Base, previously generally known as Thule Air Base, has been operated by the US ever since.

In 1951, a defence settlement with Denmark granted the US a big function within the defence of the territory, together with the best to construct and keep navy bases.

“If Russia have been to ship missiles in the direction of the US, the shortest route for nuclear weapons could be by way of the North Pole and Greenland,” stated Marc Jacobsen, an affiliate professor on the Royal Danish Defence Faculty.

“That is why the Pituffik House Base is immensely vital in defending the US.”

Trump can be doubtless within the mining potential throughout Greenland’s huge landmass, Mr Jacobsen added.

“At present, of particular curiosity are the uncommon earth minerals, which haven’t but been mined however are within the southern a part of Greenland. These are immensely vital in all types of applied sciences, from cell telephones to wind generators.”

Trump has claimed that management of Greenland is important to US nationwide and financial safety.

Although the president-elect’s rhetoric might seen uncommon, for over a century a succession of US presidents have tried to achieve management of Greenland.

“The US has tried just a few occasions to push the Danes out of Greenland and take it over as a part of the US, or at the least to have full safety tutelage of Greenland,” stated Lukas Wahden, the creator of 66° North, a publication on Arctic safety.

In 1867, after shopping for Alaska from Russia, US Secretary of State William H Seward led negotiations to purchase Greenland from Denmark, however failed to achieve any settlement.

In 1946, the US supplied to pay $100m (equal to $1.2bn; £970m at present) for the territory, judging that it was important for nationwide safety, however the Danish authorities refused.

Trump additionally tried to purchase Greenland throughout his first time period. Each Denmark and the Greenlandic authorities rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: “Greenland just isn’t on the market.”

Kuno Fencker, a member of the Inatsisartut, the Greenlandic parliament, stated on Wednesday that he did not see Trump’s feedback as a risk.

Fencker, who helps Greenlandic independence, advised the BBC {that a} sovereign Greenland might select to co-operate with the US on defence.

However when Trump first raised the concept of shopping for Greenland in 2019, many locals advised the BBC they have been against the proposal.

“It is a very harmful concept,” stated Dines Mikaelsen, a tour operator who was born and raised in Tasiilaq, east Greenland.

“He is treating us like a very good he should buy,” stated Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s first feminine prime minister.

“He isn’t even speaking to Greenland – he is speaking to Denmark about shopping for Greenland.”