Source: The Conversation
Summary
The US government’s interest in Greenland during World War II was not just about military bases, but also about access to strategic resources, particularly cryolite, a mineral essential for aluminum production. The US wanted to prevent the Nazis from getting their hands on cryolite, which was crucial for the production of planes. The US Coast Guard was sent to protect the Ivittuut mine in Greenland, and the US eventually signed an agreement with Denmark to place Greenland under US security. This move marked a turning point in the global struggle for resources and the emergence of the US as a dominant world power.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. Greenland’s cryolite mine was a crucial factor in the US’s ability to produce planes during World War II. The US’s interest in Greenland was not just about military bases, but also about access to strategic resources. The US’s actions in Greenland set a precedent for its future involvement in global resource extraction and its emergence as a dominant world power. The US’s need for cryolite was so great that it was willing to risk diplomatic tensions with Denmark and Latin America to secure access to it. The US’s actions in Greenland also highlight the complex and often fraught relationship between resource extraction and national security.
