Check out the important occasions, ideas, phrases, quotes, or phenomena each day and brush up your data. Right here’s your data nugget for at present.
(Relevance: Numerous places within the information maintain significance for the UPSC CSE examination not solely from the attitude of worldwide relations but in addition from the lens of geography. Moreover, UPSC has beforehand requested questions on completely different locations. On this context, you will need to perceive Greenland on account of its strategic location in international geopolitics, marine biodiversity, power sources, and environmental considerations.)
Why within the information?
The Danish overseas minister on Saturday (March 29) scolded the Trump administration for its “tone” in criticising Denmark and Greenland, saying his nation is already investing extra into Arctic safety and stays open to extra cooperation with the US. Overseas Minister made the remarks in a video posted to social media after US Vice President JD Vance’s go to to the strategic island. Later Saturday, although, US President Donald Trump stated NBC Information that “I by no means take army drive off the desk” with reference to buying Greenland.
Key Takeaways :
1. Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen criticised the go to of US Vice President JD Vance in Greenland, calling it a “lack of respect” and urging political unity within the face of “strain from outdoors.”
2. Notably, The go to of US Vice President JD Vance to the US army base at Pituffik, situated in northern Greenland, got here simply hours after a brand new broad authorities coalition was fashioned within the capital, Nuuk, with leaders reaffirming their ties to Denmark for now. Vance on Friday stated Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s safety and demanded that Denmark change its strategy as Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.
3. Beneath a 1951 settlement, the US is entitled to entry its base at Pituffik every time it chooses, supplied it notifies Greenland and Denmark prematurely. The bottom, strategically positioned alongside the shortest route between Europe and North America, is a vital a part of the US ballistic missile warning system.
4. Nonetheless, Trump, who beforehand expressed curiosity in buying Greenland throughout his first time period, reiterated his stance on Wednesday (March 26). “So, I believe we’ll go so far as now we have to go. We want Greenland and the world wants us to have Greenland, together with Denmark,” he stated.
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Greenland
1. Greenland, a part of North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) by way of the membership of Denmark, has strategic significance for the US army and for its ballistic missile early-warning system because the shortest route from Europe to North America runs by way of the Arctic island.
2. Greenland is the biggest island on Earth. It’s located within the Arctic and is probably the most sparsely populated territory on this planet. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one facet and the Arctic Ocean on the opposite. It’s house to the northernmost level of land on this planet—Kaffeklubben Island.
3. Greenland is mineral-rich with giant deposits of conventional sources akin to gold, nickel, and cobalt. It additionally has among the greatest reserves of uncommon earth minerals akin to dysprosium, praseodymium, neodymium, and terbium. Of the 34 categorised uncommon earth minerals, Greenland has about 23. It’s these which have introduced the island loads of consideration, together with a number of prospecting mining firms.
4. As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland hosts each Danish and US army bases. Its financial system depends closely on fishing, whereas substantial subsidies from the Danish authorities contribute about 20% of its GDP.
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5. Greenland, although geographically a part of North America, has been underneath Denmark’s management—situated almost 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away—for round 300 years. Initially ruled as a colony, Greenland remained remoted and economically underdeveloped for a lot of its early historical past.
6. In 1953, it was built-in into the Kingdom of Denmark, granting Greenlanders Danish citizenship. A major shift occurred in 1979, when a referendum on house rule allowed Greenland to take management of most inner insurance policies, whereas Denmark retained authority over overseas affairs and defence.
US quest to amass Greenland: A Historic Perspective
1. Donald Trump in his final time period had proposed shopping for Greenland, terming his proposal a “giant actual property deal”. When the Danish PM, Mette Frederiksen, known as the thought absurd, Trump cancelled a scheduled go to to Denmark.
2. Earlier than that, in 1946, simply after the top of World Warfare II, President Harry S Truman supplied $100 million to Denmark for Greenland. Truman had earlier thought-about exchanging some parts of Alaska for sure elements of Greenland. The proposal didn’t progress.
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3. In 1867, the US State Division pointed to the truth that Greenland’s strategic location and plentiful pure sources make it superb for acquisition. Nonetheless, no formal effort was made to maneuver on the suggestion.
BEYOND THE NUGGET: Panama Canal
1. In January this 12 months, the administrator of the Panama Canal stated that the very important waterway will stay underneath Panamanian management and open to commerce from all international locations, rejecting claims made by President-elect Donald Trump that america ought to take over the canal.
2. Accomplished in 1914, the Panama Canal is without doubt one of the two most strategically vital synthetic waterways on this planet, alongside the Suez Canal. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. For ships touring between the east and west coasts of america, the canal reduces the journey by 8,000 nautical miles, avoiding the harmful passage round Cape Horn.
3. The Panama Canal is greater than only a channel of water that hyperlinks two bigger our bodies; it’s a complicated, extremely engineered system that comes with locks and elevators to move ships from one finish to the opposite. This design is important as a result of the 2 oceans related by the canal should not on the similar elevation, with the Pacific Ocean being barely greater than the Atlantic
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Put up Learn Query
Close to the Greenland, take into account the next statements:
1. It was as soon as a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark.
2. It’s situated within the South Atlantic Ocean.
3. Its strategic significance rose in the course of the Chilly Warfare, and the US had a big air base in Greenland.
4. It’s wealthy in uncommon earth minerals.
How lots of the statements given above are right?
(a) Just one
(b) Solely two
(c) Solely three
(d) All 4
(Sources: JD Vance lands in Greenland, new PM says go to signal of ‘lack of respect’, Why Trump needs to purchase Greenland, and why he’s not alone on this, Information nugget of the day: Panama Canal)
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