Relevance: GS II (International Relations – Arctic Geopolitics) & GS I (Geography – Resources) | Source: The Hindu / Al Jazeera

1. The Context: A “Real Estate” Deal or Global Security?

At the World Economic Forum (Davos), US President Donald Trump announced a “framework” agreement with NATO to de-escalate tensions over Greenland.

• The De-escalation: The US canceled threatened tariffs on European allies. In return, a dialogue on Arctic security has begun.
• The Trigger: Tensions spiked after the US expressed a desire to “acquire” Greenland to counter Russia and China, calling it a “piece of ice for world protection.”
• The Assurance: While asserting the US would be “unstoppable” if it used force, Trump explicitly stated he would not do so, calming immediate military fears in Copenhagen.

2. Why Greenland? (The Strategic Logic)

Why is a superpower risking an 80-year alliance for an ice-covered island?

• The “Golden Dome”: The US views Greenland as the ideal location for interceptors and radars for its proposed missile defense shield (Golden Dome) because it sits directly under the flight path of ballistic missiles from Russia/China to the US.
• Rare Earths: As China restricts exports of critical minerals, Greenland’s vast, untapped deposits of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) (like Neodymium) offer a vital alternative supply chain for EVs and fighter jets.
• The “Polar Silk Road”: Melting ice is opening new shipping lanes. Control over Greenland means monitoring the GIUK Gap (Greenland-Iceland-UK), the naval choke point through which Russian submarines must pass to enter the Atlantic.

3. The Human & Diplomatic Fallout

• Panic in Nuuk: The rhetoric caused genuine alarm. The Greenlandic government issued “crisis guidelines” (urging citizens to stock 5 days of food/water), fearing a forced takeover.
• NATO’s Dilemma: This incident highlights a shift from “Shared Values” to “Transactionalism.” By threatening tariffs on allies (Denmark/EU) to acquire territory, the US effectively tested the limits of Article 5 (collective defense), suggesting that protection is conditional on compliance.

UPSC Value Box

Q. With reference to the “GIUK Gap,” frequently mentioned in the context of Arctic geopolitics, consider the following statements:

1. It is a strategic naval choke point located in the Pacific Ocean.
2. It serves as a major entry point for naval vessels moving from the Arctic/Norwegian Sea into the North Atlantic Ocean.
3. The “G” in GIUK stands for Germany.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)