FLASH
Shkruar nga Oliver Imhof & Anna Kornfeld
Greenland has abundant mineral resources. Maps show why the large island is also strategically important militarily for NATO and Donald Trump...
Greenland belongs to Denmark, but has autonomous status and is not a member of the EU. Along with its former colonial power, it is a member of NATO. Its closest neighbors, Canada, Iceland and Norway, are also members of the defense alliance.
At the same time, Russia also has direct access to the Arctic. Climate change could open up new trade routes near the North Pole for the Kremlin. Moreover, the region is of strategic importance from Moscow's perspective, not least because of its NATO neighbors.
China, as a trading power, also wants to exploit new routes through the Arctic. The Chinese describe themselves as a "country near the Arctic" and are trying to create a "Polar Silk Road" together with Russia.
Exclusive economic zones play a central role in the Arctic. In these zones, which extend up to 200 nautical miles from the coast, states have exclusive rights, for example, to fishing and extracting resources. But further claims can exist if the corresponding continental shelf extends beyond these zones. Since such claims sometimes overlap, territorial disputes also occur in the Arctic.
The Arctic Council brings together all the border states of the region, including Russia and the US. Its purpose is to coordinate issues such as trade routes and environmental protection. However, due to current tensions between Russia and NATO, its work is very limited. Germany and China have observer status; indigenous groups such as the Inuit and Sami are also represented.
The Arctic is also becoming increasingly important from a military-strategic perspective: climate change is making it easier for ships to navigate. This increases the importance of the so-called GIUK Gap, named after Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom (UK), as well as the "Bear Gap" between Norway, Bear Island and Svalbard.
Geostrategic corridors
These barriers are strategically important because they allow Russia to reach the Atlantic. NATO fears that Russian submarines could use them to bomb Europe from the west in the event of war and to cut off supply lines from the US.
Why climate change will change everything
Greenland is also very important for the global climate. Its ice sheet is the second largest in the world, but its melting has accelerated significantly in recent decades due to global warming. The additional water is causing sea levels to rise, which affects the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of ocean currents that acts as a heat pump, transporting warm water from the tropics to Europe. This could change Europe's relatively mild climate. Approximately 80 percent of Greenland is covered in ice; only the coasts are largely ice-free. The surrounding seas are also covered in ice during the winter months. Overall, the area covered by ice on land and sea is shrinking due to climate change, which benefits shipping and the extraction of raw materials.
Consequences for the economy
Global warming has already made the Arctic more accessible for navigation, and shipping traffic has been increasing for years. With the Northeast Passage, the Northwest Passage, and the Transpolar Route, which passes near the North Pole, there are three possible routes to cross the Arctic from one ocean to another.
Greenland is also believed to possess large reserves of raw materials. In addition to oil, these include, in particular, rare earth elements. These metals, which are particularly important for high-tech products, are of great interest to Washington. Currently, China dominates the global market. However, Greenland's deposits are still largely untapped and are considered to have low economic potential.
Military environment
Denmark currently has two military bases in Greenland, and the United States has one. The Americans consider the island an important point for their missile defense, as missile flights over the North Pole can be detected from there. Russia, Norway and Canada also have bases in the Arctic region.
Due to climate change, the Arctic could become an important geopolitical arena of the future and potentially a flashpoint of conflict.
However, few countries have experience in Arctic warfare; Norway and Finland train their NATO partners in ice exercises. Russia also aims to expand its presence in the region as part of its Arctic strategy.
/Adapted from Der Spiegel /
Problemi eshte kush t'i afrohet me shume polit te Veriut qe eshte shume i pasur ne minerale strategjike. Sipas ligjeve e konventave e terr verr verr poli Veriut mund t'i takoje shtetit qe i ka me afer kufijte. Ndersa poli Jugut eshte i palejueshem te rrembehet nga ndonje shtet e te shfrytezohet vetem per kerkime shkencore. Ku jane sot gangsteret e medhej Mongolia, Persia, Roma e Bizanti, Ottomanet, Arabet, Britania, Spanja, qe i shkaktuan botes e vehtes luftra e rrenime? Jane disa kafshe qe kur u vjen ngordhja kafshojne vehten e tyre. Ne nje studim shkencor se cila kafshe vret me shume njerez ne planet, e para doli mushkonja e tere te vegjelit, ndersa tigri e luani dolen te fundit. Prandaj problemi e frika ka qene e do te jete nga mushkonjat e kete tigrat e luanet e dine mire e prandaj jane te acaruar.
Problemi eshte kush t'i afrohet me shume polit te Veriut qe eshte shume i pasur ne minerale strategjike. Sipas ligjeve e konventave e terr verr verr poli Veriut mund t'i takoje shtetit qe i ka me afer kufijte. Ndersa poli Jugut eshte i palejueshem te rrembehet nga ndonje shtet e te shfrytezohet vetem per kerkime shkencore. Ku jane sot gangsteret e medhej Mongolia, Persia, Roma e Bizanti, Ottomanet, Arabet, Britania, Spanja, qe i shkaktuan botes e vehtes luftra e rrenime? Jane disa kafshe qe kur u vjen ngordhja kafshojne vehten e tyre. Ne nje studim shkencor se cila kafshe vret me shume njerez ne planet, e para doli mushkonja e tere te vegjelit, ndersa tigri e luani dolen te fundit. Prandaj problemi e frika ka qene e do te jete nga mushkonjat e kete tigrat e luanet e dine mire e prandaj jane te acaruar.