Greenland

So, President Trump is interested in the United States buying Greenland from Denmark ... see: CNBC Article. Already this pie-in-sky idea is being called Trump’s Folly mimicking Seward s Folly which was what Alaska was tagged when it was purchased from Russia in 1867 ... which has turned out to be a veritable goldmine in natural resources ... far far more valuable than the original purchase price of $8.2 million ... even in current dollars.

Greenland is the world’s largest island (over 372,000 square miles) situated between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans and considered part of North America. It’s population is less than 60,000 comprised primarily of Inuits who migrated from Canada many tens of centuries ago. About a third of its people’s lives in Nuuk, it’s capital city on the Southwestern coast. Greenland was discovered by the Viking Eric the Red in 982 and was named “Greenland” to attract settlers ... since the Vikings’ earlier discovery named “Iceland” didn’t  fare so well.

Although much of Greenland is covered with glaciers, the United States does operate a strategic Air Force Bass, Thule, in the northern part of the island under a long-term treaty with Denmark. Although Denmark has put out the Not for Sale sign, it is well known that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, is still somewhat a financial drain on this small Nordic country.

Although it is doubtful if Trump could build a golf course or Trump Tower there, he still obviously sees longer-term benefit for the United States to acquire this big hunk of real estate ... particularly if someday global warming actually does come about.