3 ms·

> I think the only thing we’ve ever really said no to was nuclear missiles. Denmark also politely turned down selling them Greenland. Note American cold war op

> I think the only thing we’ve ever really said no to was nuclear missiles. Denmark also politely turned down selling them Greenland. Note American cold war operations had previously contaminated the area around Thule Air Base with nuclear waste. Having nukes there in the first place was also against a Danish policy, but big brother...

asplake 5y ago
Referring to this incident, presumably https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Thule_Air_Base_B-52_crash https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Thule_Air_Base_B-52_cra...
mrweasel 5y ago
In hindsight, Denmark should have sold Greenland after WWII. That would have saves us a ton of grief. The Trump "offer" on the other hand was handled weirdly, Greenland is no longer Denmarks to sell. You can not sell a country you don't own, even if you help support it.
- Grustaf 5y ago
  In what sense doesn't Denmark own Greenland?
  - lordnacho 5y ago
    They've had had rule since 1978. They do send two members to parliament but they have say over their own matters, and people in Denmark generally agree this should be so. I doubt many Danish people would object if an independence movement were to grow.
  - mrweasel 5y ago
    Perhaps the Faroe Islands are a better example for most. They have pretty much the same status as Greenland, but I doubt that many doesn't view the Faroe Islands as country separate country. Greenland governs it self, with the exception of foreign affairs and defence, and Denmark helps fund everything (around $500 Million per year). In return Denmark gets political influence that we wouldn't have otherwise. Nobody would care what Danish politicians have to say about the arctic, if we didn't hold influence over Greenlands foreign affairs. The yearly economical support to Greenland is honestly the only reason Greenland isn't a fully independent country, but even if they opted manage their own foreign politics and defence, I think many might still want to keep the Danish Queen.
    - Grustaf 5y ago
      Well, if you’re funding something you pretty much own it…
moksly 5y ago
Well maybe in the post WW2 days, but when Trump wanted to buy Greenland it wasn’t legally ours to sell. Greenland has been moving steadily toward independence for quite some time. It’ll likely take a lot more time because “money” but it’s been a long while since we (as in Denmark) “owned” Greenland in the sense that it would be ours to sell.

asplake 5y ago

Referring to this incident, presumably https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Thule_Air_Base_B-52_crash https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Thule_Air_Base_B-52_cra...

mrweasel 5y ago

In hindsight, Denmark should have sold Greenland after WWII. That would have saves us a ton of grief. The Trump "offer" on the other hand was handled weirdly, Greenland is no longer Denmarks to sell. You can not sell a country you don't own, even if you help support it.

Grustaf 5y ago
In what sense doesn't Denmark own Greenland?
- lordnacho 5y ago
  They've had had rule since 1978. They do send two members to parliament but they have say over their own matters, and people in Denmark generally agree this should be so. I doubt many Danish people would object if an independence movement were to grow.
- mrweasel 5y ago
  Perhaps the Faroe Islands are a better example for most. They have pretty much the same status as Greenland, but I doubt that many doesn't view the Faroe Islands as country separate country. Greenland governs it self, with the exception of foreign affairs and defence, and Denmark helps fund everything (around $500 Million per year). In return Denmark gets political influence that we wouldn't have otherwise. Nobody would care what Danish politicians have to say about the arctic, if we didn't hold influence over Greenlands foreign affairs. The yearly economical support to Greenland is honestly the only reason Greenland isn't a fully independent country, but even if they opted manage their own foreign politics and defence, I think many might still want to keep the Danish Queen.
  - Grustaf 5y ago
    Well, if you’re funding something you pretty much own it…

moksly 5y ago

Well maybe in the post WW2 days, but when Trump wanted to buy Greenland it wasn’t legally ours to sell. Greenland has been moving steadily toward independence for quite some time. It’ll likely take a lot more time because “money” but it’s been a long while since we (as in Denmark) “owned” Greenland in the sense that it would be ours to sell.