<<<READ OUR LATEST RESEARCH ON GREENLAND HERE>>>

John,

President Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland has dominated headlines for weeks and he announced in Davos the framework for a deal that would provide the U.S. with significantly more access to the icy island. The rhetoric has been dramatic. The strategic arguments have been vague. The facts have been scarce. 

As we did the last two weeks with Venezuela and Iran, No Labels is here to help you cut through the noise. Greenland's significance is real, but it has nothing to do with manifest destiny or real estate deals. The island sits at the center of three overlapping competitions: military positioning in the Arctic, access to rare earth minerals that power modern technology, and control of shipping routes that are reshaping global trade. 

Here is just one striking example of why Greenland matters: a cargo ship traveling from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok covers 14,410 miles via the Suez Canal but only 8,870 miles via the Northern Sea Route – about a 40 percent reduction. That translates into savings of up to 15 days of travel time, which is why both Moscow and Beijing are investing heavily in Arctic infrastructure. 

We have compiled more data that explains what is actually at stake. 

Greenland by the Numbers 

The facts tell a clearer story than the politics. Greenland holds 36 million metric tons of rare earth elements, commands a military base 950 miles from the North Pole, and sits astride shipping routes that have seen cargo traffic increase 17-fold since 2010. It is 80 percent ice, contains enough water to raise global sea levels by 24 feet, and receives the equivalent of over $10,000 USD per resident annually.

Why Russia and China Are Racing for Arctic Control

Russia operates the world's largest icebreaker fleet. China has declared itself a "near-Arctic state" and is building polar research stations. The competition for Arctic access is intensifying, and Greenland's location makes it impossible to ignore. 

America's Long History of Trying to Buy Greenland 

President Trump is not the first American leader to pursue Greenland. Secretary of State William Seward explored buying it in 1868. President Truman offered $100 million in gold in 1946. The Pentagon urged President Eisenhower to try again in 1955. For more than 150 years, Democrats and Republicans alike have viewed Greenland as a strategic asset worth acquiring. 

What We Are Tracking Next Week 

While much of the focus this month has been on a world order being rocked by protests and upheaval, what will happen on Capitol Hill will be just as important. Congress soon returns to a key test of whether bipartisan cooperation can still function when it matters with the government funding deadline coming on January 30. Most appropriations bills have passed, but the Homeland Security bill will face an uphill battle over disagreements about ICE oversight as it conducts immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and other cities.  Senate leaders say a shutdown will be avoided. We will see if they are right, but it is only possible if members are willing to work across the aisle. Many of No Labels’ closest congressional allies are working to find bipartisan solutions. We are watching to see if they will. 

Peyton Lofton
Senior Policy Analyst

No Labels Call with Ambassador Daniel Taub

January 28 at 3 PM ET 

We hope you will join us for a special conversation on Wednesday, January 28 at 3:00 PM ET with Ambassador Daniel Taub, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom and author of the new book Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement.    

No Labels Call with Ryan Clancy

January 29 at 1 PM ET 

With so much upheaval happening around the world and here at home, No Labels Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy will give a short update on the work the No Labels policy team has been doing to help our members understand what is really going on, and why No Labels is already planning for the prospect of divided government after the 2026 midterms. Ryan also will give you a firsthand look at the coming release of No Labels’ Nightmare on Main Street narrative, which envisions the prospects and catastrophic impacts of a debt crisis in the United States.

Check out The Latest for insights and analysis on the most important issues of the day; driven by common sense, not partisanship.

Greenland by the Numbers

By Sam Zickar

The key facts behind the world’s largest island.

America’s Long History of Trying to Buy Greenland

By Peyton Lofton

A timeline of U.S. efforts to purchase Greenland, from Seward to Truman to Trump.

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