Greenland Poll: 85% to 6% against joining US

[DeepWinter]

3. Well, it's not a new idea

This is not a new idea.

However, we also think it is essential to know the history of the U.S. and Greenland to fully understand Trump’s idea.

1867 – The U.S. had sought to acquire Greenland several times before starting in 1867 when then-Secretary of State William Seward (who oversaw the acquisition of Alaska) tried to buy Greenland, too. Seward even advocated for the military annexation of Greenland and Iceland. The U.S. almost pulled off the acquisition – offering $5.5 million. But at the last minute, Seward (for reasons still not clear) pulled back.

1910 and 1946 – The idea came back up in 1910 and again in 1946 (the U.S. offered Denmark $100 million - $1 billion in today’s dollars – for the island). And there have been various discussions about the U.S. bolstering U.S. military operations – including basing an entire U.S. Naval fleet – in Greenland.

Interestingly and not well known – The U.S. militarily occupied Greenland during World War II after Denmark was invaded and occupied by Germany to prevent Nazi forces from then sending troops to occupy Greenland. The U.S. has long seen Greenland as vital to U.S. national security and has had a military presence there ever since at Pituffik Space Base.

https://www.dws.com/en-us/insights/the-world/geopolitics/does-trump-really-want-to-buy-greenland-if-so-why-frank-kelly/