US Poll Finds Most Americans Oppose Purchasing Greenland (Again)
According to The Hill, the American public largely disapproves of the United States' historic (and seemingly recurring) ambition to purchase Greenland. The survey highlights a modern sentiment against such overt colonial acquisitions. What's omitted from the polite condemnation of the 'unusual' notion is the fact that this isn't the first time the U.S. has tried to buy Greenland. In 1867,
Secretary of State William Seward explored the prospect, then again in 1946, the U.S. offered $100 million for the island. The contemporary media framing of Trump's 2019 'offer' as an isolated, eccentric whim conveniently erases over a century of American expansionist impulses. One might wonder why the US leadership intermittently fancies itself a real estate mogul for entire nations, rather than,
say, addressing critical domestic issues. Perhaps a refresher on concepts like 'sovereignty' and 'self-determination' is needed, for both politicians and the public — although the latter seems to have a firmer grasp. It appears the only thing consistent in US foreign policy, besides its self-interest, is its short-term memory.