Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
1 comment 
With More Than 2 Million Square Kilometers and Only 57 Thousand Inhabitants, Greenland Combines Extreme Isolation, Temperatures of Up to -40 °C, Limited Infrastructure, Dependence on Denmark, and a Daily Life Marked by Fishing, While It Becomes a Central Piece in the Strategic Interest of the United States in the Arctic
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday (14) that Greenland is “vital” for the Golden Dome, an anti-missile system that he plans to deploy over American territory by the end of his term, while publicly explaining why he considers the annexation of the autonomous island of Denmark strategic.
The Strategic Interest of the United States in Greenland
This statement marked the first time Trump directly expressed the central reason for his insistence on Greenland. Until then, he limited himself to stating that the island was essential for international security and that Russia and China could take control of it if the United States did not do so.
Situated between the United States and Russia, Greenland has been considered a strategic point for Arctic security for decades. Its location corresponds to the shortest route for a Russian ballistic missile to reach American continental territory, a decisive factor for the Golden Dome project.
-
Amazon launches electric bike deliveries to reduce emissions and replace vans in Washington
-
Brazilian investigated by the FBI is suspected of embezzling million-dollar jewelry and causing losses of up to R$ 100 million in the US and Brazil
-
A perfect 6 km ring in the far east of Russia intrigues NASA satellites as it appears to be a meteor crater or an extinct volcano, but the agency has already confirmed that it is neither and harbors a much stranger origin beneath the Earth.
-
From a simple approach at the gate to more than R$ 45,000 in donations, the story of a gardener offering volunteer work shows how a well-tended garden can pave the way for food, hope, and an almost finished home for a Brazilian family.
In this context, the island could host land-based missile interceptor bases, increasing response time and the defensive capacity of the American anti-missile system. The geographic proximity would allow monitoring and interception in the earlier stages of a potential attack.
Furthermore, Greenland is situated in the so-called GIUK gap, a naval corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom that connects the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic. The region is considered strategic for maritime and military control of the Northern Hemisphere.
Military Presence, Surveillance, and New Routes in the Arctic
The United States already maintains a military base in Greenland, but its presence has been significantly reduced over time. During the height of the Cold War, around 10,000 American soldiers were stationed on the island. Currently, the contingent is less than 200.
With the melting of Arctic ice due to climate change, new maritime routes are opening. These routes can significantly reduce travel time between Asia and Europe, increasing the flow of vessels through the region.
Washington assesses that these routes will be used more frequently by Chinese and Russian ships. Therefore, the United States wants to install radars in Greenland to enhance surveillance across the GIUK corridor.
According to Clayton Allen, head of operations at Eurasia Group, the U.S. needs access to the Arctic, something that is currently limited. Greenland, he says, offers that access and also allows for the installation of air defenses closer to Russia.
Allen told CNBC that next-generation weapons are not defensible with the resources available today and that Greenland’s position helps fill this strategic gap, reinforcing its role as an essential forward base.
Natural Resources and Interests Beyond the Military Sector
Beyond the military dimension, Greenland holds vast unexplored reserves of oil, gas, critical minerals, and rare earth elements. These resources are considered strategic for industrial and technological sectors.
The materials are essential for the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and defense technologies, products of direct interest to the United States in the medium and long term.
The combination of strategic value, geographical position, and economic potential explains why, in the eyes of the Trump administration, Greenland has become a central territory for American interests.
The Youtuber’s View and the Daily Reality of the Island
This geopolitical scenario contrasts with the reality presented by Youtuber Joe HaTTab, who visited Greenland and showed in a video what daily life is like in the largest island territory on the planet. His approach exposes the human and social side of a region seen, by Washington, as a strategic piece.
Greenland has more than 2 million square kilometers, an area equivalent to that of Saudi Arabia, but has only 57 thousand inhabitants. Most of the population is concentrated in Nuuk, the capital located in the south of the island.
According to the Youtuber, about 88% of the population is Inuit, the indigenous people of Alaska and Siberia. The remainder consists of whites and Danes. The territory is autonomous, has its own government and parliament, but belongs to Denmark.
Despite its name, Greenland is described as a frozen world marked by extreme temperatures. The Youtuber followed fishermen working in conditions of up to -40 °C, revealing the harshness of local daily life.
Limited Infrastructure and Geographical Isolation
Joe HaTTab highlights that Nuuk, despite being the capital, lacks roads connecting it to other cities. It is not possible to travel by car outside the city. Transportation between regions depends on helicopters, airplanes, or boats.
The entire island has only three traffic lights and a single shopping center, considered the only one in the largest island territory in the world. This structural limitation highlights the logistical isolation faced by the residents.
The Youtuber reports that approximately 90% of the products sold in supermarkets come from Denmark. Local foods are mainly composed of seafood, a result of the heavy dependence on fishing.
Historical Legacy of American Presence
During his trip, Joe HaTTab passed through an airport built by the United States in 1941, during World War II, as a refueling station for transatlantic flights. This runway remains the only one capable of receiving large aircraft.
For this reason, it is the only city in Greenland with direct flights from Copenhagen. From this point, small planes connect with Nuuk, reinforcing the dependence on air transportation.
This infrastructure inherited from the American military presence demonstrates that U.S. interest in the island is not recent but dates back to global conflicts of the 20th century, now recontextualized in the context of the Golden Dome.
Culture, Food, and Inuit Identity
The video shows that traditional food includes seals and whales, consumed as a way to adapt to the extreme environment. The Youtuber tried raw whale skin, comparing the taste to that of sushi.
Fishing is described as a central activity of the local economy, with a large portion of the population directly involved in this practice. Boats are also one of the main means of transportation between islands, such as the so-called Water Taxi.
Joe HaTTab also emphasizes the importance of Inuit cultural identity. He explains that the term “Eskimo” is considered offensive, and that Inuit simply means “people,” reinforcing the appreciation of local identity.
Contrast Between Geopolitics and Real Life
By showing colorful buildings in Nuuk, the Youtuber explains that the colors have specific meanings, such as hospitals, schools, and other services. The city, despite the isolation, presents signs of modernity.
This daily life contrasts sharply with the strategic vision presented by Trump, who sees Greenland as a key point for defense, surveillance, and access to natural resources.
While the United States analyzes the island from a military and economic perspective, the video reveals a small, resilient society adapted to one of the most extreme environments on the planet, where global geopolitical decisions coexist with a routine marked by cold, fishing, and isolation.
The overlap between these two perspectives, the strategic and the everyday, highlights why Greenland has become a central territory in the international debate, both remote for its inhabitants and crucial for the great powers.
Este está más perdido que una teta en la espalda nó invente guevonadas , son muchísimo más habitantes