Gary Cohn, former chief economic advisor to Donald Trump, stated unequivocally that Greenland will remain independent amidst discussions about the territory's future. His comments come as Trump engages in increasingly aggressive rhetoric regarding Greenland, which he views as strategically important due to its resources.
Cohn, currently a vice chairman at IBM and a notable figure in tech development, emphasized that 'invading an independent country that is part of NATO' would be an extreme move. During a recent interview, he stressed that there's a broad consensus among U.S. leaders, across party lines, that Greenland is not up for negotiation in terms of ownership.
Cohn suggested that the U.S. could seek to enhance military relations with Greenland, which would welcome increased military presence on the island given the rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. Moreover, he hinted that Trump's overtures regarding Greenland may serve as negotiation tactics rather than genuine plans to alter the territory's status.
Discussions at the World Economic Forum have centered around the geopolitical implications of Trump’s statements on Greenland, alarming many in the global business community. Cohn pointed out that Greenland possesses vast reserves of rare earth minerals that are vital for technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, which are also key focus areas at the Forum.
Trump’s fixation on these resources could be tied to his administration’s larger strategy, with Cohn noting that resources in Greenland could enhance U.S. technological capabilities and security interests. However, he also cautioned against aggressive military actions in a democratic alliance context, emphasizing the importance of respecting Greenland's sovereignty.
