photo by: Creators Syndicate

Keith Raffel

History does not really repeat itself, not exactly. But with both a bachelor’s and a master’s in history, I can’t help but make comparisons between current and past events. What Trump is doing with regard to Greenland sure does remind me of what was going on in Central Europe during the late 1930s.

In 1938, Germany declared its intention to annex the German-speaking portions of Czechoslovakia. Those areas, known as the Sudetenland, had never been part of the German Empire. Hitler believed in expansionism and called for “Lebensraum,” or living space, for his country. Sudetenland was strategically located on the German border and contained valuable economic resources, mainly major industrial areas.

Germany threatened war to seize the territory by force of arms. At the infamous Munich conference, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier yielded to German demands.

OK. Now let’s talk about Greenland. The world’s largest island, it’s about the same size as Alaska and California combined but has only 57,000 people. The two states have about 700 times more. Greenland is an autonomous dependency of the Danish crown which has promised it independence.

Like Hitler, Trump has embarked on a policy of expansionism. At his inauguration last month, he declared, “The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation — one that increases our wealth, expands our territory … and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons.” He has an eye on not just Greenland, but also Canada, the Panama Canal and even the Gaza Strip. In regard to a U.S. takeover of Greenland specifically, he has said, “I think we’re going to have it” and has indulged in saber-rattling by refusing to rule out force in taking it. He explicitly said, “I’m not going to commit” to not using U.S. military forces.

Czechoslovakia was a member of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations. Hitler didn’t care. His policy was to expand Germany’s territory through threats or by invasion. Greenland is a dependency of Denmark, a U.N. member. The U.N. Charter states that “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” Trump’s threats have already violated that provision.

During the summer of 1938, pro-Nazi agitators in the Sudetenland funded by Germany fomented unrest. Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland last month to stir up support for American plans. A fundraiser is being planned to foster U.S.-Greenland relations at Mar-a-Lago in April.

Given its potential mining riches, I can understand Trump Sr.’s craving to take over Greenland. He’s a property developer at heart. I do wonder what could be in it for the predominately Indigenous inhabitants of Greenland. The United States expanded from coast to coast by seizing territory from Indigenous peoples and breaking treaties with them. The new lands were exploited by settlers to their benefit, not to that of the peoples. Greenlanders today are already well-to-do by world standards with a per capita GDP of around $57,000 per year — ironically enough, around the same as Germans.

Hitler alleged that Sudeten Germans were being massacred in order to justify his claims to the territory. He was lying. Trump has stated that the Greenlanders “want to be with us” to justify his claims. He is lying. According to a recent poll, 85% of Greenlanders say they want nothing to do with joining the U.S.

Hitler wanted Sudetenland and issued threats to get it. Trump wants Greenland and is issuing threats to get it. Hitler didn’t care if he flouted international norms, and neither does Trump. Hitler’s Lebensraum policy was conducted in a fraught world marked by depression and aggression. A world war ensued.

Trump’s expansionist foreign policy is being directed not against a foreign enemy but against a NATO ally. It could prove the end of that alliance. His threat to take over Greenland, which violates the U.N. Charter, is already being used by Russia to justify its attempt to conquer Ukraine. It can only encourage China, too, in its efforts to seize Taiwan.

I believe in a world where peace is kept in large part by the moral leadership and military strength of the United States. I am not sleeping well these days.

— Keith Raffel is a syndicated columnist with Creators.