The plan would replace the $600 million in subsidies Denmark gives the island each year
The Donald Trump administration is reportedly considering giving about $10,000 to each Greenland resident as part of its plan to annex the island.
The possibility would seek to replace the $600 million Denmark gives the territory in subsidies every year, and has stopped being mere rhetoric to become official U.S. policy, according to The New York Times.
The outlet detailed that the plan already includes several cabinet departments and that the White House’s National Security Council has met several times to advance on it, recently sending specific instructions to different offices.
Actually, greenlanders have polled and voted to become independent as a supermajority, they just haven’t started the process of independence yet.
I expect that the process towards independence for greenland is going to be delayed in light of recent events though. I can’t imagine they’d want to go through with it right now
Either way, Denmark has come out and said in the past that they will respect the wishes of greenland
Edit: here’s a recent poll I believe https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/virtually-no-greenlander-wants-to-join-the-us-poll-finds/
Yes Greenland wants to be independent under the terms that Denmark continue to pay huge regional subsidies of more than 10k USD per capita per year. On top of paying for official functions like police and defense. While still being tax exempt.
They don’t want to pay for any of that themselves.
Apparently the only thing that keeps Greenland part of Denmark is money.
And AFAIK Denmark gets nothing in return.
If this support for more than a hundred years, doesn’t make Greenlanders feel as if they are part of Denmark, then I don’t see why we should keep supporting them.
Yes we made mistakes in the past, but good luck finding someone else to support you, that display greater respect for the autonomy of Greenland.
It’s not the money as such but Greenland not being ready for full independence. They don’t want independence to leave them worse off, poorer, as a playing ball of larger powers, etc.
Basically Greenland is a 30yold guy living with their parents figuring out how to get their own place. They aren’t thrilled about the situation, but the parents are tolerable and it definitely beats being homeless.
Denmark gets a friend out of this, and a good conscience. Also, business opportunities. Applies to Europe in general, I very much doubt Greenland will go for independence without joining the EU. Not only would it provide safety, but it also means sovereignty while still being able to draw on cohesion funds.
Greenland actively chose NOT to be part of EU!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_and_the_European_Union
Support for re-joining increased form 40% to 60% from 2021 to 2024.
Main stumbling block has always been the fisheries policy, same with Norway, Iceland and the Faroer, and while truth be told the CFP really needs reform it also has lost much economical importance for the countries. Well maybe except the Faroer.
Greenlanders and Faroese are still EU citizens, btw, by virtue of being Danish citizens, with all the privileges that entails. That kind of special status won’t be possible upon independence, it’s going to be all-in or all-out. Ask Brits how losing EU citizenship feels like.