Recognized as an Arctic country, the autonomous country of Greenland has been a part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1721. However, Denmark is only a part of the Arctic through Greenland and has created policies for Greenland in the past. Greenland’s new Foreign, Security, and Defense Strategy for 2024 – 2033, titled ‘Greenland in the World – Nothing about us without us,’ is not only a way to update policies, but also a way for Greenland to be more independent. In shifting away from Denmark, Greenland hopes to pursue greater independence, as well as take control over its resources and decision-making processes. This transition raises questions about the potential impact on resource management in Greenland, particularly considering the interest from external actors like China in resource exploration.
Over the past two decades, Greenland’s movement toward independence has intensified. However, Greenland’s independence has been seen as likely for a long time. In 1953, an amendment to the Danish constitution incorporated Greenland as a province of Denmark. Subsequently, in 1979, Greenland was granted home rule, a governance structure where certain functions, such as colonial power, are devolved and institutionalized locally by the colonized nation. The Home Rule Act allowed Greenland to be included in the Danish Realm.
In 2009, the self-rule law conferred significant powers to the Greenlandic government, Naalakkersuisut, including autonomy over the legal system and authority over all underground resources, including those within the nation’s territorial waters. Additionally, the Act on Greenland Self-Government would allow Greenland to attain complete independence if done through a referendum with consent from the Danish Parliament. In April 2023, a constitutional commission presented Greenland’s parliament with the island’s first draft constitution. Greenland’s ‘Nothing about us without us’ is a strategy aimed at developing ties with neighboring countries, partners, and the international community. By “insisting on a seat at the table,” Greenland will distance itself from Denmark in the hopes of greater sovereignty. This strategy’s impact will be significant, particularly given Denmark’s absence of an Arctic strategy since the expiration of the previous one in 2021.
Although Greenland possesses an abundance of resources and climate change is rendering some regions more accessible, there remains a possibility that achieving independence could lead to the exploitation of these resources in order to deliver the significant economic benefits necessary for Greenland’s survival. Greenland will need a way to survive without relying on financial assistance from Denmark. However, an increased use of resources could result in major drawbacks that will affect the economy overall. The Self-Rule Act also included a block grant of approximately 3.5 billion Danish kroner annually, transferred from Copenhagen to Nuuk and seen by many today as the main symbol of Greenland’s dependence on its former colonizer. This yearly payment commenced in 2009, but even then it was evident that it would not serve as a sustainable support for Greenland’s economy. Because of Greenland’s increasing public spending, decreasing profits from fisheries, aging population, and low-skilled labor force, Greenlandic politicians view “large-scale extractive industries as the sole viable pathway toward achieving a self-sustaining economy.” One year later, the Mineral Resources Act was passed, granting Greenland the rights to revenue generated from mining activities and prompting the territory to seek partnerships with Chinese mining companies. In 2013, Greenland’s parliament made the decision to lift the ban on uranium extraction, allowing Greenland to participate in large-scale development. Now that Greenland is actively participating in the mining and selling of their rare earth elements, it could be said that Greenland is hoping for independence through economic prosperity.
As soon as Greenland gained the right to develop its resources in 2009, China became involved with Greenland’s geostrategic location and abundance of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits. China’s rapid economic growth is one reason for its exploration into Greenland. China is often seen as one of the few states that can execute the necessary investment. In 2023, China’s overseas investment reached 264.5 billion in United States dollars. China fears being excluded from future economic and scientific opportunities, therefore it looks towards the Arctic to find new economic opportunities. China is not geographically positioned in the Arctic, so the Arctic is one area where it remains at a disadvantage; however, China became a part of the Arctic Council as an observer state in 2013. Due to the restrictions on China’s involvement in the Arctic Council, over time, China may pursue alterations to existing governance to align with its interests. If Greenland gains full control over all its resources and decision-making processes, China will only become more interested in Greenland and its resources.
According to ‘Greenland in the World – Nothing about us without us,’ Greenland’s resource management goals include increasing environmental regulations, strengthening the control of potential resources, and tightening safety requirements in the territorial waters after extending their jurisdiction from three to twelve nautical miles. Considering China was eager to work with Greenland immediately after they gained some jurisdiction over some of their resources, even though Greenland intends to preserve the world’s biodiversity and environmental sustainability, doing so while maintaining social sustainability could be a challenge without income from increased resource extraction. Because China will already be prepared to increase its exploration into the Arctic resources and Greenland has to meet their economic development needs, strengthening collaboration between the two nations is highly anticipated.
Currently, China has been involved in multiple mining and icebreaking projects in Greenland, each with consequences. The Large Scale Project Act granted Greenland the authority to recruit foreign workers, which created concerns regarding the potential destabilization of the region due to an influx of Chinese workers. China’s rare earth project attracted controversy as developed countries sought to counter China’s dominance over the rare earths market. Greenland seems to be blinded by the goal of political autonomy from Denmark, and China has been able to gain a monopoly over the rare earth elements found in Greenland. The Arctic Yearbook analyzed the different possible drivers behind Chinese engagement in zinc mining and rare earth element mining projects in Greenland. Their conclusions suggested that “Chinese involvement in R.E.E. [rare earth elements] projects abroad are more likely to be driven by China’s interest in the strategic resource itself, whereas decisions of where to engage in zinc projects are more likely to be determined by China’s foreign policy priorities.” China has strategic goals that can be reached through the extraction of Greenland’s resources.
Even though cooperation with China moves Greenland closer to independence, once Greenland gains that independence, China will be able to increase their investments and more resources will be extracted. Resource over-extraction could be devastating for Greenland because it risks depleting its natural assets beyond sustainable levels, leading to irreversible environmental damage, including loss of biodiversity and disruption of ecosystems.
‘Greenland in the World – Nothing about us without us’ highlights the hope for increasing partnership along with environmental sustainability. Partnerships with China based on past collaborations solely meant that China would extract minerals or break ice to reach new resources. It does not seem possible that further partnerships will not change the current situation regarding environmental sustainability. Additionally, over-reliance on resource extraction can lead to a lack of diversification, making the economy vulnerable. Greenlandic culture is rooted in hunting and fishing traditions. Resource extraction as the primary economic driver may hinder the development of alternative sustainable industries, leaving Greenland vulnerable to economic instability in the long term. Greenland’s desire for independence challenges its determination to maintain a traditional livelihood and culture. By looking at past mining projects, and the Large Scale Project Act, labor exploitation could become a bigger problem when China’s prevalence in the region increases. Cultural differences between Chinese mining workers in Greenland and the local people can create social problems; for example, in the public report “Chinese Workers—in Greenland,” it was estimated that the I.S.U.A. project might need 5,000 Chinese workers while the population of Nuuk only has 17,000 residents. Moreover, Kenty Dubois from the Polar Connection claimed that “the increase of foreigners can be perceived as a threat to Greenlandic identity [as the island’s population would have to give up its traditional activities to a certain extent].”
Greenland’s recent Foreign, Security, and Defense Strategy ultimately expresses Greenland’s hope for sovereignty. However, the subjects focused on throughout the strategy are contradictory. Environmental preservation is crucial for Greenland’s long-term well-being and sustainable development, but trying to find a balance between maintaining a traditional livelihood with goals of protecting biodiversity seems near impossible when also trying to grow international relationships, especially with China.
- Rwanda Accuses U.N. Of Deception In Asylum Proceedings; U.K.-Rwanda Deportation Plan Looms - November 23, 2024
- Uyghur Land Seizures and Cultural Suppression in Xinjiang - November 7, 2024
- The Iran-Israel Missile Crisis And Its Regional Implications - September 16, 2024