The disclosure of VP's Greenland itinerary by Danish daily Berlingske (Sept 27) reveals more than meets the eye. This marks the first VP-level visit since 1941 when FDR authorized construction of Bluie West-1 airbase during Nazi occupation. The Pentagon's 2020 Arctic Strategy Blueprint explicitly prioritizes "persistent surveillance and forward posture" in the region, with Thule Air Base's $4.3B modernization program (per DoD FY2023 budget) serving as the linchpin.
Historical precedent shows Greenland's strategic value transcends its 56,000 population. The 1946 $100M loan offer (equivalent to $1.4B today) for purchasing the island, declassified in 1991, established America's enduring interest. Current mineral wealth estimates from GEUS (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland) indicate 38.5M tons rare earth oxides - enough to supply global demand for 25 years.
The timing coincides with Greenland's revised mining tax regime (effective Jan 2023), slashing royalty rates from 25% to 5% for strategic minerals. Nuuk's recent rejection of Chinese mining giant Shenghe's bid for Kvanefjeld project (Reuters, Feb 2023) creates vacuum Washington seeks to fill. State Department cables leaked via Distributed Denial of Secrets show intensified USGS geological mapping since 2019, with 12 new critical mineral claims filed through shell companies.
