Is it getting cold in here?

I met my husband in Greenland of all places. We were both in the Air Force and stationed at what was then called Thule Air Base. The chances of the two of us being there simultaneously were slim, so I believe divine intervention brought us together. About ten years ago, only around 135 American military personnel were stationed at Thule Air Base, with the remaining staff consisting of scientists, Danes, and other Europeans. By the time I arrived at Thule, I was on what is considered my fourth remote tour assignment. In the military, a remote tour means you cannot be stationed with your family. You are generally away from regular creature comforts but not on deployment, which consists of 6-12 month trips to locations like Afghanistan, Iraq, or other war zones, war zone-adjacent areas, or places affected by natural disasters. Prior to Thule, I had completed a tour in Korea, another on an island in the Atlantic Ocean owned by Portugal, and an extended tour in Africa. I would argue that Thule represents the only real remote assignment in the military—it was so isolated that there wasn’t even a gate or fence around the installation. People were often surprised to hear that we were stationed in Greenland and that there was a military installation so far north, even among fellow military members. However, they started to understand when I explained the base's proximity to some of our on-and-off frenemies, like Russia and China. Thule Air Base, now renamed Pittufik, has been operational since the 1950s. It currently houses a substantial portion of the global network of missile warning sensors, space surveillance, and space control sensors, providing space awareness and advanced missile detection capabilities to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Space Force, and joint partners. The base is also home to the 821st Space Base Group (formerly the Air Base Group when we were there) and is responsible for space base support within the Pituffik Defense Area for the multinational "Team Pituffik" population. The base hosts a Ballistic Missile Early Warning System designed to detect and track intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched against North America. Additionally, it is part of the global satellite control network. The airfield's 10,000-foot runway accommodates over 3,000 U.S. and international flights annually, and the base is home to the northernmost deep-water port in the world.

I wanted to provide some background on this relatively small base to illustrate why the Trump administration has shown such interest in Greenland and the Arctic region. President Trump’s expressed desire to bring Greenland into the fold, either through purchase or force, is motivated less by Greenland itself and more by the broader Arctic concerns. While mainstream media portrays Trump as a lunatic for suggesting the purchase of Greenland, history shows he wasn't the first to entertain this idea. President Harry Truman attempted to buy it for $100 million in 1946, and the State Department inquired about it in 1867. Geographically, the world’s largest island is part of the North American continent and thus integral to the North American defense system. The world has become—and continues to become—a much smaller place than it was in the 1940s, or even the 1800s. Our adversaries are closer to our territories and those of our allies. Modern weapons have also become more sophisticated and nuanced. We should not forget the Chinese "weather balloon" that traversed our continent recently, reports of numerous other balloons that NORAD admitted went undetected, unexplained drone sightings, and cyberattacks, all of which indicate that our enemies are closer than ever before.

Northern Europe recognizes this, even if it doesn't want to admit that cooperating with the Trump administration on Arctic matters is in its best interest. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated that Denmark is “open to dialogue" with the U.S. on how the two countries can collaborate in the Arctic region, which includes Danish-controlled Greenland.

“In conjunction with the melting of the Arctic and new shipping lanes opening up, we are unfortunately also witnessing an increase in great power rivalry. We see a Russia that is arming itself and a China that is also starting to take an interest."

Norway's Svalbard, is strategically important for Moscow, as it lies along a sea route that Russia's Northern Fleet must navigate to reach the Atlantic Ocean, despite Russia already owning more Arctic territory than any other country. Several settlements on Svalbard, where around 2,500 people live, have been populated by Russians since the Soviet era. The island also features Pyramiden, an abandoned coal-mining town where a statue of Lenin overlooks the central square. Russia provocatively installed Soviet flags in the Russian-settled towns and announced its intent to expand its presence. The announcement was made to open a new scientific center dedicated to polar research.

This may sound familiar; not long ago, Russia claimed parts of Eastern Europe as its territory, citing Soviet history and the predominance of Russian inhabitants in the region.

Should the United States purchase Greenland or consider a military takeover? I don't believe the Trump administration plans to do either. The rhetoric from President Trump and his associates is more in line with his usual negotiation tactics. The Trump administration is making a wise decision by wanting to enhance control over the Arctic. It is naive to think that we can trust our adversaries to remain neutral when it comes to the poles, even in the name of science. The Arctic is increasingly significant for scientific research, environmental concerns, and national security. It is time for the United States to concentrate on strengthening its national defense rather than worrying about how the rest of the world—particularly its allies—perceives those decisions. Ultimately, what benefits the United States will also be advantageous for our allies, whether they are willing to acknowledge it publicly or not.