Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said Wednesday that his homeland of Greenland has similar strategic advantages as President-elect Trump continues to publicly mused about acquiring a self-governing Arctic island. He claimed that there was.
President Trump said ownership of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is “absolutely necessary” for the United States, pointing to the island's rich natural resources and potential benefits to U.S. national security.
in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal editorialSullivan argued that Alaska has the same benefits as Greenland and encouraged the incoming Trump administration to recognize the state as a “great strategic asset,” which the Biden administration does not. said.
“There has been a lot of talk about President-elect Trump's idea to buy Greenland,” Sullivan wrote. “But one state in the United States offers all the benefits of Greenland: Alaska.”
Sullivan referenced the debate that some say is needed because Greenland is the gateway to the Arctic Ocean and Russia and China vie for power in the region.
“Greenland will be America's gateway to the Arctic, but thanks to Alaska, America is already an Arctic nation,” Sullivan wrote.
“The Russians and the Chinese know that my state is at the forefront of great power competition,” he added, noting that in the past two years alone there have already been 12 air attacks on the state's air defense identification zone. He pointed out that there was.
He described Alaska as “the linchpin of U.S. missile defense,” noting that missiles launched by Russia, China and North Korea are likely to fly over the state.
Sullivan noted that President Trump has said his administration's priority is to build America's Iron Dome. To do that, Sullivan said, “we need to strengthen our anti-ballistic missile capabilities in Alaska and build a robust multi-layered missile defense and space-based missile sensor capability.”
Sullivan also addressed claims that Greenland is “rich in mineral and energy reserves,” and with an estimated 40 billion barrels of oil and about 235 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, “Alaska is even richer.” I wrote.
He added: “Alaska is also rich in metals and other minerals, some of which are essential to our national defense, economy and renewable energy sectors.”
“Buying Greenland? Of course, if the price is right and the Danes are willing to sell it,” Sullivan wrote. “But as Mr. Trump prepares to once again unleash Alaska's potential, it's worth remembering what General Billy Mitchell, the father of the U.S. Air Force, once said: 'I believe that . . . Those who control Alaska control the world. I believe this is the most strategic place in the world.
