Chinese experts interpret President Donald Trump's recent announcement of securing the United States' 'permanent control' over the security of Greenland, a territory of Denmark, as a move to counter the expanding influence of China and Russia in the Arctic and to gain a strategic advantage.
On September 18, Trump stated via his social media platform Truth Social that the U.S. has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland to secure 'permanent control' over Greenland's security, which includes the deployment of additional U.S. troops to the territory.
He emphasized, "No hostile nation will be able to establish bases or military presence in Greenland without our explicit written approval, nor can they make sensitive investments there."
While Trump did not specify which hostile nations he was referring to, U.S. media, citing State Department officials, reported that the agreement explicitly prohibits non-NATO countries from establishing military bases and deploying troops in Greenland, particularly targeting investment scrutiny towards China and Russia.
Trump has previously expressed concerns about the potential for increased Chinese and Russian influence in Greenland, arguing that China's access to the territory's critical infrastructure and mineral resources could lead to a long-term expansion of strategic influence beyond mere economic interests.
Notably, the timing of this announcement, just days before a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on September 24, has led to interpretations within China that the U.S. is intensifying strategic pressure ahead of the meeting.
Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China, analyzed in the South China Morning Post on September 19 that the U.S. move to strengthen control over Greenland, a strategic point in the Arctic, is similar to its geopolitical approach regarding the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal is a crucial maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The U.S. has recently been wary of China's expanding influence around the canal, particularly concerning port operations linked to China. Wang believes that the U.S. is repeating its efforts to enhance influence over key strategic routes and locations in Greenland.
He further argued that the U.S. explanation for its actions as a means to prevent Greenland from falling under Chinese or Russian influence is merely a pretext, noting that China has not effectively exercised influence in Greenland and that past investment plans have repeatedly failed.
Concerns have also been raised that this Greenland agreement could undermine strategic trust between the U.S. and China and exacerbate security competition, hindering peaceful development in the Arctic region.
Wang Yong, director of the International Political Economy Research Center at Peking University, stated that while the Greenland agreement is unlikely to derail the U.S.-China summit, it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the strategic trust between the two nations. He emphasized that China must maintain a firm stance in protecting its legitimate interests and respond to the 'over-securitization' of all Arctic issues.
He added, "China must safeguard its legitimate rights in international shipping and scientific research and strengthen multilateral cooperation with Arctic nations and the international community in areas such as climate change, fisheries, and polar science."
In recent years, China has quietly expanded its cooperation with Russia in the Arctic region. In August, a Chinese shipping company began regular container operations along the Arctic route for the first time. Additionally, China and Russia conducted their first joint icebreaking survey in the Arctic Sea this summer.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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