2 ms·

>Greenland is unbelievably, stupendously critical to US security. I think the US may just remain secure without owning Greenland. I mean it's done ok so far.

by tim333 10mo ago

threecheese 10mo ago
Shrinking of the ice caps is opening up a whole new theatre for trade, natural resource extraction, and more importantly conflict.
- UncleMeat 10mo ago
  "New spaces for trade and natural resource extraction" doesn't sound like "unbelievably, stupendously critical to US security" to me. As for conflict, what? The US already has military bases there and the only threat to continued military access to the area is that the US is acting like a fucking two year old and pissing off all of its allies. And imagine the worst case scenario. The US loses access to the land and sea in the entire region. How specifically does this dramatically change US security? Is a naval invasion launched from Greenland actually a thing people are worried about? Surely a better approach to maintain US security is, you know, a stable global order and military alliances with other powerful nations in the region?
  - threecheese 9mo ago
    You and I are most definitely aligned wrt reality, I was just saying expanding on the OPs argument. I believe diplomacy (plus a healthy dose of hegemony, and Alaska) is plenty for the US to be safe here. In that reality Canada/US relations are critical.
adventured 10mo ago
How about if China buys Greenland or otherwise acquires a massive port on Greenland. Maybe China builds one of the world's largest military bases on Greenland with a century deal. China is going to end up being every bit as powerful as the US ever was, both economically and militarily. Nothing will be off the table in what's coming. Russia has never had a true global projection navy, China will have a navy that is plausibly going to be both larger and more powerful than the US navy with full global reach. That global reach will include the entire North and South American region. If you're the US you look to lock down Greenland and Panama, for starters.
- tim333 10mo ago
  What if China builds a port in Canada? Does that mean the US has to invade? In practice Greenland and Denmark have been quite sensitive to these things are unlikely to open a Chinese naval base. Which is one of the things that's sad about this - why attack one of your most faithful allies and wreck NATO in a way that horries most of the democratic world and delights Moscow? Not really the US's finest hour.

>Greenland is unbelievably, stupendously critical to US security. I think the US may just remain secure without owning Greenland. I mean it's done ok so far.

by tim333 10mo ago

>Greenland is unbelievably, stupendously critical to US security. I think the US may just remain secure without owning Greenland. I mean it's done ok so far.

threecheese 10mo ago

Shrinking of the ice caps is opening up a whole new theatre for trade, natural resource extraction, and more importantly conflict.

UncleMeat 10mo ago
"New spaces for trade and natural resource extraction" doesn't sound like "unbelievably, stupendously critical to US security" to me. As for conflict, what? The US already has military bases there and the only threat to continued military access to the area is that the US is acting like a fucking two year old and pissing off all of its allies. And imagine the worst case scenario. The US loses access to the land and sea in the entire region. How specifically does this dramatically change US security? Is a naval invasion launched from Greenland actually a thing people are worried about? Surely a better approach to maintain US security is, you know, a stable global order and military alliances with other powerful nations in the region?
- threecheese 9mo ago
  You and I are most definitely aligned wrt reality, I was just saying expanding on the OPs argument. I believe diplomacy (plus a healthy dose of hegemony, and Alaska) is plenty for the US to be safe here. In that reality Canada/US relations are critical.

adventured 10mo ago

How about if China buys Greenland or otherwise acquires a massive port on Greenland. Maybe China builds one of the world's largest military bases on Greenland with a century deal. China is going to end up being every bit as powerful as the US ever was, both economically and militarily. Nothing will be off the table in what's coming. Russia has never had a true global projection navy, China will have a navy that is plausibly going to be both larger and more powerful than the US navy with full global reach. That global reach will include the entire North and South American region. If you're the US you look to lock down Greenland and Panama, for starters.

tim333 10mo ago
What if China builds a port in Canada? Does that mean the US has to invade? In practice Greenland and Denmark have been quite sensitive to these things are unlikely to open a Chinese naval base. Which is one of the things that's sad about this - why attack one of your most faithful allies and wreck NATO in a way that horries most of the democratic world and delights Moscow? Not really the US's finest hour.