Cold War pact surfaced: Trump can just take Greenland — NYT

US President Donald Trump does not need to buy Greenland, he can just take it. It is reported by The New York Times, citing a source.

According to the newspaper, this makes it possible to make a Cold War agreement.

"As part of a little-known Cold War agreement, the United States already has extensive military access in Greenland. Now at The United States has one base in a very remote corner of the island. However, the agreement allows it to "build, install, maintain and operate" military bases throughout Greenland, "deploy personnel" and "control landings, takeoffs, parking lots, parking lots, movements and operation of ships, aircraft and watercraft," the publication says.

The document was signed by the USA and Denmark in 1951.

"The United States has such freedom of action in Greenland that they can do almost anything they want. It is very difficult for me to imagine that the United States would not have been able to get almost everything they wanted if they had just politely asked," said a researcher at the Danish Institute of International Studies in Copenhagen Mikkel Runge Olesen.

A relatively simple defense agreement between the United States and Denmark was updated in 2004 to include the semi-autonomous government of Greenland, which gave it a say in how American military operations might affect the local population. It, in turn, has its roots in the pact of the Second World War, when Denmark was occupied by the Nazis, and its ambassador in Washington, cut off from Copenhagen, concluded a defense agreement for Greenland with the United States. After World War II, the United States continued to operate some bases and a number of early warning radar stations. At the end of the Cold War, the United States closed all but one — the current Pittufik space base, which helps track missiles crossing the North Pole.

The Danes have a weak presence on the island: several hundred soldiers, including special forces, who use dog sleds for long-range patrols. Copenhagen has recently promised to modernize its bases and strengthen surveillance.

"Analysts believe that if the United States tries to use the defense pact as a cover to send large numbers of troops and attempt to occupy Greenland, it will not be legal either. According to the 2004 amendment, the United States should consult with Denmark and Greenland before making "any significant changes" to its military operations on the island. The 2004 amendment, signed by General Colin L. Powell, then Secretary of State, explicitly recognizes Greenland as "an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark," the newspaper writes.

However, in practice, as stated by Danish defense analyst Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, if American forces make reasonable requests, "the United States always gets a yes."

"This is a formula of politeness. If the US wanted to act without demand, they could simply inform Denmark that they are building a base, an airfield or a port," he said.