Trump has said Greenland would be valuable to the US, and he’d like to acquire it. Denmark, the current owner has said “no.” Several authors have noted the way the US has mostly acquired territory has been by buying it.
Instead of bullying NATO and Denmark, I suggest an approach to the voters of Denmark, over the heads of their government. Greenland is currently a drag on Denmark’s economy, which Danes pay taxes to cover.
Offer to relieve them of that burden plus a cash purchase price paid individually to each Danish citizen. There are roughly 6 million Danes. If Greenland is worth $6 billion, that would be $1000 each. If it is worth $60 billion, the payout would be $10,000 each. For a couple with one child, $30k could be a car, a home down payment, or seed money for a start-up.
It is likely that offer might attract interest among the many Danes who have little interest in the rarely visited and very lightly populated, ice-coated colony. In brief, make the Danes a offer they won’t want their government to refuse.
