Melting ice adds to the Arctic’s allure

In 2019, during his first term, US. President Donald Trump floated the possibility of purchasing Greenland, sending a major shock through the international community.

- SHIGERU KITAMURA

“Essentially, it’s a large real estate deal,” Trump said. “And, strategically, for the United States, it would be nice.” His remarks were ridiculed as bizarre, but the strategic calculations lurking behind the idea are not absurd.

Greenland is home to abundant reserves of strategically critical rare earths. The United States maintains a space force base there that is directly linked geographically to missile defense. Purchasing Greenland would help ensure American presence along the Arctic Ocean shipping route. All these elements symbolize the competition between great powers in the 21st century.

Thisis not the first time the United States has shown an interest in Greenland. When the country’s relations with the Soviet Union deteriorated in 1946, U.S. President Harry Truman approached Denmark to buy Greenland, but his offer was rejected. Trump is now in his second term and has renewed his desire to own the territory.

The United States’ interest in the Arctic region is not transient. Instead, itis becoming a mainstay of politics among the great powers. The Arctic Ocean, where sea ice has been declining due to global warming, is attracting attention as a new shipping route. For shipping between East Asia and Europe, the distance via this ocean is shorter than the distance via the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal. Ships sailing through the Arctic seaway can also avoid the pirate-infested waters off East Africa and the Middle East.

The decline in Arctic sea ice is likely to increase the potential for resource development in the Arctic region. For this reason, China and Russia are also increasingly interested in the area. On August 15, the U.S. and Russian leaders held a summit in Anchorage, Alaska. It is rare for a Russian president to visit the U.S. mainland, except to attend international conferences.