Greenland has long been a trusted U.S. ally

I might come off as an uncultured oddity to some of you, but I have been to a few fairly exotic places in my life besides Jeffrey City and Reno, Nevada. About 50 years ago, I went to Greenland.

Back in 1972, when I was just 8 years old, I got my first and only tiny glimpse of Greenland. We were on a transatlantic flight that stopped there to refuel. My dad woke me up, pointed out the window, and said, “Look, we’re in Greenland!” In my half-asleep state, I remember replying, “It doesn’t look very green to me.” Everything outside was white. Snow, ice, runway. Little did I know that decades later Greenland would pop up in a very different kind of conversation.

During World War II, Greenland played a quiet but crucial role in the Allied war effort after Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1940. Greenland became a vital stepping stone for aircraft traveling between North America and Europe, allowing thousands of U.S. planes and crews to pass through bases such as Bluie West One. Just as important, Allied weather stations in Greenland provided forecasts that helped shape military operations across Europe, underscoring the island’s strategic value without any attempt by the United States to claim ownership or political control.

That importance only grew during the Cold War, when the Arctic became the shortest route between the Soviet Union and North America. U.S. and Danish cooperation led to the development of Thule Air Base, a cornerstone of early-warning systems designed to detect incoming bombers and later nuclear missiles. In both eras, Greenland’s contribution was rooted in alliance and mutual security, showing how cooperation, rather than conquest, shaped one of the most strategically important regions on Earth.

Fast forward to today, and the idea has surfaced that the United States could somehow just “take over” Greenland. This is not just a chunk of ice on a map. It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has been an ally of the U.S. for decades. During World War II, Greenland was on our side. The notion that we could simply grab it like a piece of property echoes the worst instincts of history, and it is a pretty depressing thought.

In the end, Greenland is not real estate up for grabs. It is a place with its own people, history and alliances. So maybe it’s worth remembering that childhood moment. Greenland might not look very green, but it has never been empty, and it has never been anyone’s to simply claim.