Greenland and the Arctic
Greenland occupies a unique position in global strategic geography. Sitting directly beneath the polar arc, it lies along the trajectory of any intercontinental ballistic missile traveling from Russia to the United States.
Geographic Significance
Geography is brutally simple. Any Russian ICBM targeting the United States travels over the Arctic. Greenland sits directly beneath that arc, making it one of the most strategically important pieces of real estate on the planet for:
- Early warning systems
- Missile defence infrastructure
- Space-based communication relays
Current Status
The United States already has extensive military rights in Greenland under Cold War-era agreements with Denmark, including Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base). However, Greenland has drifted steadily toward autonomy, with increasing discussion of full independence.
Strategic Considerations
From an American perspective, Greenland's potential independence creates risk. A small, resource-rich Arctic state could become economically dependent on, or strategically penetrated by, hostile actors. Denmark cannot realistically afford to defend Greenland on its own, nor fully administer it in strategic terms.
Space Infrastructure
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the centrality of space-based infrastructure to modern warfare. Much of the world's satellite ground infrastructure, polar orbits, and data relay passes through the Arctic. Greenland offers the United States redundancy, resilience, and control in this system.
Greenland and the Arctic
Context & Analysis
Greenland occupies a unique position in global strategic geography. Sitting directly beneath the polar arc, it lies along the trajectory of any intercontinental ballistic missile traveling from Russia to the United States.
Geographic Significance
Geography is brutally simple. Any Russian ICBM targeting the United States travels over the Arctic. Greenland sits directly beneath that arc, making it one of the most strategically important pieces of real estate on the planet for:
- Early warning systems
- Missile defence infrastructure
- Space-based communication relays
Current Status
The United States already has extensive military rights in Greenland under Cold War-era agreements with Denmark, including Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base). However, Greenland has drifted steadily toward autonomy, with increasing discussion of full independence.
Strategic Considerations
From an American perspective, Greenland's potential independence creates risk. A small, resource-rich Arctic state could become economically dependent on, or strategically penetrated by, hostile actors. Denmark cannot realistically afford to defend Greenland on its own, nor fully administer it in strategic terms.
Space Infrastructure
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the centrality of space-based infrastructure to modern warfare. Much of the world's satellite ground infrastructure, polar orbits, and data relay passes through the Arctic. Greenland offers the United States redundancy, resilience, and control in this system.