Icy in Greenland

The eyes of the world are on the icy terrain of Greenland this week, as a bevy of news centered on U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to obtain U.S. control of the giant island nation. As part of the effort, President Trump announced planned tariffs on European countries that do not back his acquisition proposal. President Trump also wrote to Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that the decision to award someone else the Nobel Peace Prize is causing him to no longer have “an obligation to think only of Peace.” The prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, but Machado gave the award to President Trump last week.

Analysis and eternal perspective: It may be more world headlines about Greenland in a week than in all the rest of modern history combined. There are so many intertwined threads, and it is difficult to separate the meaningful from the theatric.

First, the Nobel Peace Prize. The famous prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and, while the medal and accompanying diploma may be given away at will, the honor is non-transferable. The Norwegian government is not responsible for the selection, but President Trump believes its influence is determinative. Award or no award, you and I are to persistently pursue peace (Ps. 34:14). We are also to seek the praise of God rather than the praise of men (Gal. 1:10, Jn. 5:41, Jn. 12:43).

Next, control of Greenland. Greenland’s government is of a hybrid variety. It is largely self-governing with most of its affairs directed by a parliamentary system. However, its national defense and foreign affairs is overseen by Denmark as part of Greenland’s formal status as a territory of Denmark. A peaceful change in this status would require formal voluntary action by the people of Greenland.

Finally, tariffs. The use of economic pressure from an outside country with the aim at achieving involuntary takeover of territory is unsurprisingly seen by most as a hostile action. It is generating protest on the ground in Greenland and likely making a voluntary act to change Greenland’s official status less likely.

This story is likely to remain in the headlines and continue generating controversy. Your aim, regardless of your underlying view about the best future status of Greenland, should be to stand for peace, respect the principle of self-determination, and pray for all the authorities involved (1 Tim. 2:1-2).