Student Article
Who Really Owns Greenland? A Land of Ice, Vikings, and Global Power Plays
Geopolitics (noun): How geography influences political power and international relations.
Autonomy (noun): The ability to make decisions independently.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is often seen as a remote, frozen land. But this icy giant has long been at the center of international interest, with a history that stretches from prehistoric Inuit migrations to Cold War geopolitics.
Inuit and Viking settlement
For over 4,500 years, Greenland was inhabited by Paleo-Eskimos, and later Inuit communities who mastered survival in the Arctic. Then came Erik the Red, an exiled Viking who arrived between AD982 and AD985. He famously gave Greenland its appealing name to attract settlers. Viking colonies formed along the island’s southwestern coast, and for a time, they thrived, trading with Europe and surviving in the harsh conditions. These Norse settlers even produced famous explorers like Leif Erikson, who sailed from Greenland to North America. Yet, by the 1400s, the Norse disappeared, likely due to climate change, isolation, and shifting trade.
Hans Egede and Denmark’s claim
In the 18th Century, Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede launched a Christian mission, hoping to reconnect with lost Norse descendants. Instead, he met Inuit communities and established Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. This marked the beginning of Denmark’s modern claim over the island.
Greenland’s strategic importance during World War II and the Cold War
Though Denmark formally incorporated Greenland in 1953, it always remained somewhat apart. That changed during World War II, when Germany’s invasion of Denmark cut Greenland off from Europe. The U.S., recognizing its strategic location in the North Atlantic, stepped in and built military bases to counter Nazi threats. During the Cold War, America’s Thule Air Base became a vital radar site against potential Soviet missile attacks.
Greenland today
Greenland’s role in world politics didn’t end there. Melting ice is now revealing valuable resources like oil, gas, and rare earth metals. New shipping lanes are also opening. Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and expanded autonomy in 2009. Today, while Denmark still controls foreign policy and defense, Greenland governs much of its own internal affairs.
© James Osborne / www.historyextra.com
Geopolitics (noun): How geography influences political power and international relations.
Autonomy (noun): The ability to make decisions independently.