(The Economic Collapse Blog)—All of a sudden, everyone is talking about Greenland. Normally, Greenland is a place that is largely ignored by the rest of the world, but apparently Donald Trump is very serious about acquiring it. But what would that look like? If Greenland is made the 51st state, it would have as many U.S. Senators as the state of California. That could have very serious implications for the balance of power in Congress. And how would Greenland vote in U.S. presidential elections? Has anyone even considered that? Of course Greenland could become just another U.S. territory, but why would the citizens of Greenland want to become the next Puerto Rico? That certainly doesn’t sound very appealing. And why is Trump making such a big deal out of this anyway? Approximately 56,000 people live in Greenland, and 80 percent of it is covered in ice. So why does Trump want it so badly?
Of course the truth is that it all comes down to natural resources.
In particular, Greenland has lots and lots of oil.
According to Wikipedia, Greenland “has some of the world’s largest remaining oil resources”…
Some geologists believe Greenland has some of the world’s largest remaining oil resources:[30] in 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey found that the waters off north-eastern Greenland (north and south of the Arctic Circle) could contain up to 110 billion barrels (17×109 m3) of oil,[31] and in 2010 the British petrochemical company Cairns Oil reported “the first firm indications” of commercially viable oil deposits.[32]
The U.S. consumes an average of approximately 20 million barrels of petroleum per day.
So 110 billion barrels is a serious amount of oil.
And it also turns out that the Chinese are very interested in the rare-earth elements that are buried under the dirt in Greenland. In fact, one particular area of Greenland is “home to one of the world’s largest undeveloped deposits of rare-earth elements outside of China”…
Kvanefjeld is home to one of the world’s largest undeveloped deposits of rare-earth elements outside of China. Seventeen elements, including scandium and yttrium, are buried deep underground there. They are used in everything from cell phones and wind turbines to electric cars. Mining advocates say tapping into them would be a major financial boon for Greenland.
Greenland Minerals Limited (GML), the Australian company developing the mine, said that the country would receive $240 million (€201 million) in taxes and royalties annually over the mine’s planned 37-year lifespan. GML’s biggest stakeholder is Shenghe Resources Holding, a Chinese rare-earths processing company.
It has been estimated that there are more than 38 million tons of rare earth deposits in Greenland.
So who will end up benefitting from those deposits?
Will it be the U.S. or will it be China?
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On top of everything else, an extremely important U.S. military base is already located in Greenland…
Thule Air Base, already a vital U.S. military installation, provides early warning radar and monitors potential missile threats. Housing approximately 600 personnel, it plays a critical role in the U.S. missile defense network, covering threats across the northern hemisphere. Its strategic location enables unparalleled monitoring capabilities, reinforcing America’s defensive posture in the Arctic. Expanding this presence would fortify America’s Arctic strategy against rivals such as Russia and China, ensuring unparalleled leverage in the rapidly evolving Arctic theater.
If we lost that base, it would be an enormous strategic blow to the United States.
After considering all of the variables, Trump has decided that it is time for us to control Greenland.
In fact, he is threatening Denmark with very painful tariffs if they try to stand in the way…
US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened “very-high” tariffs on Denmark if it resists his effort to take control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
And on Tuesday, Trump actually refused to rule out the use of military force to take control of Greenland…
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday wouldn’t rule out exercising military or economic coercion to further his goal of bringing both Greenland and the Panama Canal under U.S. control, as his son, Donald Trump Jr., is in Greenland amid Trump’s push to acquire the autonomous territory of Denmark.
“I can’t assure you, you’re talking about Panama and Greenland,” Trump told reporters during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this — we need them for economic security.”
Obviously, a military invasion of Greenland is something that should be completely off the table.
The rest of the world would be absolutely horrified if we invaded Greenland and made it part of the United States by force.
If Greenland is going to come under U.S. control, it must be done by diplomatic means. Perhaps Donald Trump Jr.’s visit to the island is the beginning of that process…
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Donald Trump Jr., son of President-elect Donald Trump, arrived in Greenland Tuesday with conservative activist Charlie Kirk amid a push to purchase the Danish territory.
“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” the president-elect posted on Truth Social.
“The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE!
“This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
In the end, it will be up to the people of Greenland to decide their future.
It is a land that has been dominated by Denmark for a very long time, but now it could soon be holding a referendum on independence…
Greenland, the world’s largest island, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1979, it achieved home rule, and in 2009, self-governance, granting it control over domestic affairs while Copenhagen retained authority over defence and foreign policy. Crucially, the 2009 agreement provides Greenland with the right to declare independence through a referendum.
If Greenland votes for independence, it seems unlikely that they would be interested in giving that up just to become another U.S. territory.
Greenland Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede insists that his country “will never be for sale”…
“Greenland is ours,” Egede also said. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
Egede was indeed responding to an assertion from Trump that the United States must acquire Greenland “for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World.”
So I think that this is a deal that would be exceedingly difficult for Trump to make.
Of course this isn’t the first time that the United States has been interested in acquiring Greenland…
This is not the first time the US has shown interest in acquiring the island. Under President Andrew Johnson in 1867, the US State Department noted Greenland’s resources and location as ideal for acquisition but made no formal efforts.
Nearly a century later, President Harry S Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland in 1946 after recognising its strategic value post-World War II. Truman also considered trading parts of Alaska for Greenland, though the deal never materialised.
Without a doubt, I think that Greenland would like to have very strong ties to the United States.
But I wouldn’t count on Greenland becoming part of the U.S. any time soon.
Needless to say, Trump will have so many other issues to focus on once he becomes president that the status of Greenland will probably quickly become an afterthought.
2025 is going to be such an important year for our nation and for the entire world, and the decisions that Trump makes during the months ahead will have enormous implications for all of us.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds