In the Oval Office of the White House, a large globe stood right on the left hand of the president’s table. I don’t know if Donald Trump knows the purpose of this item, but judging by the idea discussed in the US administration to buy Greenland, it’s unlikely. Unless, of course, proceed from standard human logic, according to which the United States would like to control the Northern Sea Route.
The Northern Sea Route is a good, suitable route. There are no pirates along this road, there are no confrontations between eastern despots, there is no Cape of Good Hope. There is nothing on it at all. Except, in fact, the way. And ice. Therefore, there is calm and guaranteed. Because almost all this path runs along the border of only one state - Russia.
How can I control the path that goes in the economic zone of Russia, somewhere from Greenland, for me personally is a big mystery. Moreover, the United States simply does not have ships that could freely move in these latitudes.
However, ships can be built. And global warming is making its own adjustments: ice melts almost throughout the Northern Sea Route. But where to get 100 years of Russian experience in Arctic exploration? Maps of ice movement built by employees of drifting stations? Russia is a country of the North, this is our world, we can live in it like no one else. And there is nothing more stupid than buying a large ice floe in this world and thinking that now you are like us. So you bought - and then what?
However, if you close your eyes to this glaring senselessness from a practical point of view, from all other points of view the hypothetical deal is delightful and impeccable. Firstly, the Greenland affiliation of Denmark is a great historical absurdity. Denmark is small, Greenland is far and large. Greenland is a burden for Denmark. Having sold Greenland, Denmark will get rid of the burden, and even get so much money that it will be possible to live comfortably for quite some time.
From this point of view, the idea is so good that some English columnist is already offering to sell Britain to the Americans. For £ 10 trillion The idea is truly brilliant: with Brexit, it is resolved by itself, and the UK goes to where it should be, that is, to the world of its children. It is not very clear, however, what to do with the queen and the countries of the Commonwealth. Well, you can send the queen to the countries of the Commonwealth. Let him rule Australia. Australia, unlike Greenland, is not needed by anyone. It is far away, and no way passes at all.
After that, of course, it will be necessary to buy Canada. Because after the purchase of Greenland, Canada will be surrounded on all sides by the United States.
And there is no sense in the existence of a sovereign Canada either - almost everyone speaks English there, Americans travel through Canada, why can’t Canada become part of America? And Quebec will be like New Orleans. Exotic attraction, no more.
And look how well it turns out: the largest country in the world, occupying almost the whole mainland, missiles in Wales, Russians in London under full control, the Madonna no longer has to rush here and there — she will simply make domestic flights. The plan is decidedly good for everyone. Except for one thing - he again does not solve a single issue with the Northern Sea Route. Because all issues with the Northern Sea Route have already been resolved. And not by the Americans.
Yes, and Denmark behaves, frankly, unconstructively. “Greenland is not for sale,” Denmark states. But why? Or, first, ask the population of this very Greenland where it would like to live - in Denmark (to which, by the way, you still have to fly by plane) or in America? The Eskimos of Greenland would certainly be more comfortable with the Eskimos of Alaska. But this harsh “not for sale” absolutely deprives the world of room for maneuver. A chance for new thinking.
However, this is all a joke. Of course, having sovereignty provides more room for maneuver than a one-time deal. Greenland is completely optional to sell. It can be rented, say, for rent. And to take a lot of money for this rental. You can just put an American base there - and also take a lot of money for it. America will not become the largest country in the world, the Northern Sea Route will not become American from this, but we will not tell Donald Trump about this? Since he himself does not have enough reason to look at the globe.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.