US 'Democracy Promotion' Doesn't Apply When We Want Your Land
Al Jazeera’s report on Greenlandic fears of US annexation highlights a recurring American foreign policy theme: manifest destiny, but with a credit card. While the article focuses on former President Trump’s 2019 bid, it sidesteps the long, bipartisan tradition of American expansionism. From buying Louisiana in 1803 to annexing Hawaii in 1898—often against the will of indigenous populations—the US
playbook for acquiring territory and resources isn't exactly new. Funny how 'self-determination' is a rallying cry when it suits US strategic interests, but a quaint, easily-ignored sentiment when those interests involve a massive, mineral-rich island. One might wonder why America, which champions national sovereignty and decries territorial aggression abroad (sometimes a bit selectively), finds
its own historical and potential actions in Greenland so utterly reasonable. Perhaps Greenland's strategic location and untapped rare earth minerals (which are, coincidentally, crucial for 'green' technologies and defense) make its inhabitants' desire to 'not be Americans' a minor inconvenience. It’s almost as if the concept of 'freedom' gets a slight reinterpretation when it bumps up against
geopolitical expediency and resource control.