The Cold War further solidified Greenland’s role in continental defense. The U.S. operated radar stations and air bases — including what is now known as Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland — as part of the early warning system against potential Soviet missile attacks.
In recent years, two major trends have reignited global attention on the Arctic:
Climate Change: Thinning sea ice is opening new shipping routes and making previously inaccessible areas easier to navigate.
Resource Potential and Competition: Greenland sits atop vast deposits of critical minerals and rare earth elements needed for electronics, energy storage, defense technologies, and telecommunications.
These changes are drawing increased interest from major powers — particularly the United States, Russia, and China — as each seeks to protect strategic interests and access emerging economic opportunities.
This shifting landscape has elevated Greenland from a peripheral location to a central piece of 21st‑century strategic planning. Continue reading…
