# How valuable would Greenland be to the United States? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 16, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752 "2019-08-16T16:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/21 "2019-08-16T19:37:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It’s cold, and there’s a lot of Lutherans there. Sorry, we don’t want it - we already got Minnesota. Also, the invasion plans for Manitoba are almost ready for implementation. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/22 "2019-08-16T19:41:12Z")
Maybe we could trade Greenland for something of equal value, say, West Virginia? Ice for coal? Or maybe the Danes could take South Dakota off our hands? Who needs it? ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/23 "2019-08-16T19:51:48Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > It would be like trying to buy Canada from the UK. Speaking as a UK Doper, I think we’d be willing to take offers. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/24 "2019-08-16T20:04:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It would be the obvious next step in the strategic encirclement of Canada. Thats not too far off, it would give the US two points of control for this side of the arctic ocean, plus a BMD location that does not depend on a flakey Canadian government and is able to project over western Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/25 "2019-08-16T20:21:49Z")
Why BUY it? Why not just _take_ it? How many divisions does the King of Denmark have? > [@BobLibDem](#): > > I bet Donald looked at a globe for the first time in his life, saw Greenland, and thought “Wow, it must be green there! I bet I could build golf courses there if the US owned it!” He was probably looking at a [Mercator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercator_projection) projection, and impressed by the island’s size. It’s bigger than Africa. Grab that sucker before she melts! ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/26 "2019-08-16T20:24:21Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Why BUY it? Why not just _take_ it? How many divisions does the King of Denmark have? Sounds good to me, so long as we promptly follow up by ceding all executive control to said King. I’m not sure we should even give him any choice in the matter. “No takebacks!” ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/27 "2019-08-16T20:33:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Why BUY it? Why not just _take_ it? How many divisions does the King of Denmark have? Given that the king died in 1972, probably not many. [Queen Margrethe II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark)’s Royal Danish Army is pretty small (12,500 active troops, plus 63,000 reservists), but they are a NATO member. Invoking Article 5 against the US would be, um, interesting. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/28 "2019-08-16T20:49:29Z")
Maybe Iceland should try to sell him Vinland. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/29 "2019-08-16T21:27:20Z")
With respect to US interests, buying Greenland is not the dumbest idea in the world. It has lots of natural resources and strategic importance to the US. Additionally, although Greenland says they can’t be bought, currently they get a $500 million annual subsidy from Denmark. The US could easily make a sweeter deal. The issue is (a) why this? why now? and (b) does Trump realize that Greenland is not a white country, but rather full of indigenous people who have a bunch of lefty political views? I wouldn’t mind if the US acquired Greenland but I would care if it came at the expense of virtually anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/30 "2019-08-16T21:37:59Z")
Greenland is like Minnesota. It is populated by people who traveled incredible distances and suffered incredible hardships, never discouraged, never resting, until they found the only place on earth that was just as fucking miserable as the place they left. (Stolen from some comedienne I can’t remember). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/31 "2019-08-16T21:42:55Z")
I’d be in favor of acquiring it, but only if it’s the [Mercator Projection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mercator_projection_Square.JPG) version of Greenland. It’s bigger’n Africa! Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/32 "2019-08-16T21:49:33Z")
never mind - joke already made. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/33 "2019-08-16T21:53:27Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > With respect to US interests, buying Greenland is not the dumbest idea in the world. It has lots of natural resources and strategic importance to the US. Additionally, although Greenland says they can’t be bought, currently they get a $500 million annual subsidy from Denmark. The US could easily make a sweeter deal. Thanks, finally some serious responses. IF the price can be right - a very low price, in relation to the natural resources and geographic territory it provides - I don’t see how much of the arguments against buying Greenland are any different than the ridicule of Alaska as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” back in the day; Alaska being a piece of land that has paid for its purchase price many times over. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/34 "2019-08-16T22:01:15Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > The issue is (a) why this? why now? and (b) does Trump realize that Greenland is not a white country, but rather full of indigenous people who have a bunch of lefty political views? Oh, it’s _extremely_ white, but only for another century or so. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/35 "2019-08-16T22:02:00Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Oh, it’s _extremely_ white, but only for another century or so. It’s usually shown as white on maps, which is probably good enough for him. ---
**Author:** ![etasyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9f8e36/32.png) [@etasyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etasyde)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/36 "2019-08-16T22:02:10Z")
The REAL appeal, I think, is mostly because the US has only lost territory in the past few decades (specifically the Philippines). Trump likely **adores** the idea of being the first president to expand US borders in… a very long time. He’d have no interest in making them a state, and would shunt them to the side of American politics just like Puerto Rico or our other territories, but expanding territory? _That’s_ got some appeal. However… > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > With respect to US interests, buying Greenland is not the dumbest idea in the world. It has lots of natural resources and strategic importance to the US. This is what makes this _practical_. Consider this map: [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/George\_Barakos/publication/285538097/figure/fig4/AS:365519271153667@1464157993251/Map-showing-the-global-distribution-of-rare-earth-element-deposits-and-mines-Walters.png](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/George_Barakos/publication/285538097/figure/fig4/AS:365519271153667@1464157993251/Map-showing-the-global-distribution-of-rare-earth-element-deposits-and-mines-Walters.png) You might notice where a lot of those points are. And China is going to royally screw the USA in terms of rare earths if this trade war gets as protracted as it looks like it’s going to. I suspect he’s excited about it for the first reason, but actually trial ballooning the idea because of the second. Not that I wouldn’t believe it was a random reason alone… Who knows with that clown? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/37 "2019-08-16T22:05:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Thanks, finally some serious responses. IF the price can be right - a very low price, in relation to the natural resources and geographic territory it provides - I don’t see how much of the arguments against buying Greenland are any different than the ridicule of Alaska as “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” back in the day; Alaska being a piece of land that has paid for its purchase price many times over. To be clear, I don’t think Greenland will pay for its purchase many times over, or that there is any urgently compelling reason for the US to buy it. It is a not-terrible idea, and only that. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/38 "2019-08-16T22:08:38Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > It isn’t even the Danes to sell. Although part of the kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is an autonomous nation. It would be like trying to buy Canada from the UK. No it wouldn’t. Canada has no such relationship with the UK, we just have the same Queen. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/39 "2019-08-16T22:10:16Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > No it wouldn’t. Canada has no such relationship with the UK, we just have the same Queen. But the Queen could sell you to us, right? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752/40 "2019-08-16T22:29:08Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > No it wouldn’t. Canada has no such relationship with the UK, we just have the same Queen. Which is why it is such a perfect scam, like a much bigger Brooklyn Bridge. Sell the Queen’s sovereign rights for $1 trillion and when United States comes crying to the UK that the Canadians refuse to recognize the authority of the President and demand its money back, Parliament can just shrug and say “yeah, they never listed to us either and no refunds.” Giant win. Not the U.S. would ever try and absorb Canada anyway. Even if you assume only the 10 full provinces got state recognition, you’d still be adding 20 Democratic senators and lord knows how many Democratic congressman. You’d reduce the Republicans to permanent minority status in the Senate for certain ;). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-valuable-would-greenland-be-to-the-united-states/838752.md?page=3)