Greenland: The New Arctic Resource Scramble
The Actors, Funding, and Incentives: THE ACTORS: The original article highlights the United States, NATO (specifically Denmark, as Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark), Russia, and China. Within Greenland, there are local politicians and a population navigating external pressures. Key figures include U.S. State Department officials advocating for increased presence
and Danish defense interests. THE FUNDING: The U.S. has pledged aid packages, including $12.1 million for economic development in Greenland in 2020 (Council on Foreign Relations, 2020), distinct from explicit military spending. This 'aid' often funds projects directly or indirectly benefiting U.S. strategic interests, such as infrastructure development that can serve dual civilian-military
purposes. For instance, the upgrade of Kangerlussuaq Airport, a former U.S. airbase, indirectly facilitates greater access. Russia has invested heavily in Arctic military infrastructure, reactivating Soviet-era bases (Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2020). China's interest, while less overt militarily, includes scientific research stations and proposals for mining projects,
representing significant financial outlays for future resource extraction. THE INCENTIVES: For the U.S. and NATO, Greenland represents a critical strategic outpost, bordering key shipping lanes and offering surveillance capabilities against Russian activity. Missile defense systems previously deployed, like those planned for the early 2000s, exemplify this intent. For Russia, the melting Arctic