Former top advisor to Donald Trump, Gary Cohn, has publicly stated that Greenland will remain under its current governance, despite Trump's previous controversial remarks about potentially acquiring the territory. Cohn, now vice chairman of IBM and a key figure in AI and quantum computing, explained that any aggressive action towards Greenland would be crossing a significant line.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cohn remarked, Greenland will stay Greenland and linked Trump's interest in the region to the need for access to critical minerals as the demand for these resources rises. He noted that American leaders from both sides of the aisle firmly agree on Greenland's sovereignty.
Cohn highlighted warnings that an invasion of an independent NATO member would be unprecedented and cautioned against potential geopolitical ramifications.
He also speculated that Trump's recent statements regarding Greenland could be part of a broader negotiation strategy. Cohn recalled that following a congressional delegation meeting, there seemed to be a uniform consensus that Greenland's current status would not change, emphasizing that the territory would welcome an increase in US military presence due to growing threats in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Given Greenland's significant untapped reserves of rare earth minerals, Cohn suggested the US could explore agreements that would allow for resource extraction in a manner respectful of Greenland's autonomy. Invading a country that doesn't want to be invaded... seems to be a bit over the edge at this point, he stated.
The discussions around Greenland at Davos come alongside Trump's contentious foreign policy maneuvers, including his interventions in Venezuela, which Cohn described as a strategic effort to disrupt China's influence over its oil markets. He emphasized the critical importance of accessing rare earth minerals for emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing, which he believes will play a pivotal role in the future of global economics.
Cohn's remarks come amid heightened scrutiny and concern from political and business leaders regarding the geopolitical implications of Trump's rhetoric surrounding Greenland. As the situation continues to evolve, the focus on Greenland's sovereignty and strategic resources remains at the forefront of international discussions.
