Trump's Threats to Greenland Give Pressing Uniqueness and Inherent Value to the Debate Arguments

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has continued his threats to Greenland, articulating his fears of China and/or Russia occupying the territory instead. Trump has said that if he fails to take Greenland “the easy way, then he will take it “the hard way”.

“We are going to do something in Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” Trump said. Some professionals have since warned that if President Trump decided to take Greenland by force, that would spell “the end of the NATO alliance.” Denmark's Defense Ministry has additionally added that if Greenland were invaded, soldiers would be allowed to shoot without waiting for permission from higher-ups.

Some expressed concerns over Donald Trump’s true intentions, arguing that it is not for security or resources that could be found in Greenland, but rather an agenda to expand American territories for the sake of expansion and to “make America great again.” The government of Greenland has since the statements insisted that the country is not for sale.

Its Pressing Impact on Debate

These pressing matters also gives inherence to multiple affirmatives in policy debate today, especially since Greenland is a part of the Arctic Circle. Affirmatives like the Greenland REM mining affirmative have the potential to be especially good. Affirmatives like these propose mining projects in Greenland to both inhibit future conflict between Trump and other countries regarding Greenland, while also being able to mine for rare earth minerals that can be used in many high-tech machines and inventions: powerful magnets, aircraft systems, and laser guided weapons. Greenland currently holds the second-largest reserves of rare earth elements, along with a pro-mining government. Teams could argue that such weapons and technologies are essential to nuclear deterrence. Such affirmatives can also argue that mining rare earth minerals allows us to hedge back against China and Russia because such minerals have a large and strong standing in the global economy.