US's Greenland Obsession: A Century of Failed Bids for Strategic Arctic Territory

• US President Donald Trump recently revived interest in acquiring Greenland, citing national security and Arctic deterrence, with the White House considering all options, including military.
• Historically, the US made previous attempts to buy Greenland: in 1867 (Secretary Seward), 1910 (land swap for Mindanao), and 1946 (President Truman's $100 million offer).
• Motivations for acquisition consistently included Greenland's strategic location for military bases (e.g., 'world's largest stationary aircraft carrier') and its vast natural resources.
• Denmark, which governs Greenland, has consistently rejected these offers, often expressing dismay or calling them 'absurd,' as seen with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's reaction to Trump's proposal.
• Past bids, like Seward's for Alaska, were initially mocked but later proved strategically valuable, highlighting the long-term vision behind these acquisition attempts.

Why It Matters: US has a long, unsuccessful history of trying to buy Greenland due to its strategic value and resources.