Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, has expressed an interest in buying Greenland.
Key Points about Greenland
- Geographical Significance:
- Largest island in the world that is not a continent.
- Connected physically to North America by a shallow submarine ridge but geopolitically associated with Europe.
- Political Status:
- Part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with extensive autonomy since 2009.
- Foreign, security, and currency policies remain under Denmark’s control.
- Not a member of the EU but holds special agreements, particularly in fisheries.
- Cultural and Physical Characteristics:
- Primarily inhabited by Inuit people.
- Dominated by a vast ice sheet, second in size only to Antarctica’s.
- Trump’s Interest:
- Donald Trump, as U.S. President-elect, expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, highlighting its strategic and economic importance.
United States’ Largest Land Purchases
- Louisiana Purchase (1803): Acquired from France, doubling the size of the U.S.
- Alaskan Purchase (1867): Bought from Russia, providing valuable resources and strategic positioning.
- Gadsden Purchase (1853): Land from Mexico to facilitate southern transcontinental railroad construction.
- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Incorrectly listed here as a U.S. land acquisition. It was an agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing the New World.
