Is Greenland Already A Part of America? Technically, Yes Because It Sits on the North American Tectonic Plate
Earth, since its inception, has gone through many changes. The present world is drastically different from the past. Many landforms that are now miles apart were attached at the tip at one point in time. This past alignment and other reasons are making some people put forward speculations, stated IFL Science.
Greenland is present on the North American tectonic plate, as per experts. For tens of millions of years, this plate has undergone constant movements, stated NASA. These movements caused Greenland to move above a hotspot. The plate, apart from Greenland, holds Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.A., along with the Bahamas, Cuba, the extreme northwestern edge of Siberia, northern Japan, the extreme northwestern edge of Siberia, portions of the Azores, and Iceland.
Despite being part of the same plate, all of these regions are distinct in identity. Iceland and the Azores are identified as European, Cuba exhibits Latin American culture, the Bahamas is associated with the Caribbean, and the Northwestern Siberia and northern Japan belong to Asia. Greenland is a complex and diverse entity. Due to the Greenlandic Inuit, the region has historical and cultural connections with North America, but at the same time, its indigenous population shares a lineage with Native Americans.
At present, Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. This means that its governance has a Scandinavian influence. This influence is also visible in the region's healthcare, education, and legal systems. Danish culture is evident all across the territory, along with Inuit and Native American heritage. The region's diverse identity has not stopped American President Donald Trump from making claims of acquiring the region. According to the President, Greenland should come under U.S. control to strengthen the latter's security.
Trump is not the first U.S. official to vie for Greenland, stated BBC. "The US has tried a few times to push the Danes out of Greenland and take it over as part of the U.S., or at least to have full security tutelage of Greenland," said Lukas Wahden, the author of 66° North, a newsletter on Arctic security. U.S. Secretary of State, William H Seward, tried to buy the island in 1867, but failed. Another attempt was made in 1946, but that also turned futile. During Trump's first term, his office also tried to start sales negotiations but was rejected. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments asserted that "Greenland is not for sale."
Recent results of Greenland elections have gone in favor of Naleraq, whose objectives include starting divorce proceedings from Denmark and having closer relations with the U.S.A. However, that doesn't mean the Greenland civilians want the U.S. to rule over them. An opinion survey done in January showed that 85% of Greenlanders did not want to become part of the U.S. Fergal Keane, a BBC correspondent, continuously heard just one thing- "Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. So, Trump can visit, but that's it."
Trump, during his speech to Congress, strongly advocated for allowing Greenlanders to choose how they want to move ahead in terms of governance. "If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America," he said.